Farmer’s access to finance is an area that needs to be strengthened says the Fiji Crop and Livestock Council.

This is one of the challengers faced by non-sugar sector farmers who are finding difficulties in accessing funds.

Fiji Crop and Livestock Council Chief Executive Jiu Daunivalu says they need to ensure farmers are not only assisted in capacity building, knowledge and information but also to address the major problem of accessing finances.

“Sometimes farmers don’t understand how the players in the value chain works and how are they operating and supports us and enable us so when I say that these are the government and other key agencies that work together with supporters .That is very important training that we do undertake together with Fiji Development Bank”

FCLC received a major boost of $400,000 from government for this financial year compared to $50,000 in the previous national budget.