Farmers of Baulevu, Naitasiri have been urged to use available government development assistance programs to enhance local agricultural production.

Minister for Agriculture Dr. Mahendra Reddy informed farmers of the Ministry’s intent to actively promote commercial agriculture, emphasizing their role in advancing the sector by utilizing the government’s available resources, and to work collaboratively with the Ministry to implement initiatives.

The Ministry he says is committed to boosting the agriculture sector to another level to increase agricultural production through commercial farming.

Dr. Reddy says the government is working to ensure farm roads and drainage to farms is worked on and completed by December.

The Minister urging Farmers to continuously liaise with Ministry officials in order to be kept abreast of the latest technologies and assistance.

He says part of the commercial agriculture model is the assistance government gives to farmers for land clearing for agriculture in addition to assistance with equipment.

Dr. Reddy says where possible, farmers need to seek the assistance of the Ministry’s technical agricultural officials.

Meeting specific market demands was also reiterated to farmers as securing a market for their produce was important, with farmers being urged to work with the relevant authority.

In addition, Minister Reddy advised livestock farmers on the benefits of Juncao grass and encouraged them to take advantage of the Juncao technology.