The Fiji Crop and Livestock Council in partnership with the UN Food & Agriculture Organization recently held training sessions for farmers, buyers and exporters.

The workshops were held in Suva, Labasa and Nadi.

These were a follow up to contract farming forums that were held in 2015, which introduced Council farmers to new opportunities in commercial agriculture through the contract farming.

Chair, Simon Cole, says the training sessions look at improving commercial farming, give farmers confidence to grow crops, and give buyers the confidence that their crops will be delivered at the right time and right quality.

Contract farming involves an agreement between buyers or processors and farmers for the production, supply, and marketing of agricultural products.

FCLC was mandated by Government in 2010 to support and encourage the commercialization of agricultural farming in Fiji.

To date twelve commodity associations comprise the Council and they are Grazing Livestock, Dalo, Yaqona, Cocoa, Ginger, Rice, Fiji Foods Exporters Association, Pigs, Beekeepers, Fruit and Vegetable, Organics, and Copra.