To continue to support Fiji’s efforts in agricultural modernisation and pursing agricultural sustainable development and resilience in response to the climate change as well as the impact of COVID-19, the Republic of China (Taiwan) is setting up the new Centre for Agricultural Technology Transfer in Nausori, Fiji.  
 
The ground breaking ceremony, presided jointly by Representative of Taipei Trade Office in Fiji Jessica Lee and senior officer of Ministry of Agriculture, was held on 15 February 2021.
 
Representative Lee said in her remarks that as Fiji’s longest agricultural development partner and the world leading IT industry country, Taiwan Government injects around FJD$3 million(US$1.5 million) to set up the first-of-its-kind Agricultural Technology Transfer Center to help Fiji harness the potential of its agriculture sector.
 
She pointed out that integrating high-technology digital innovations to farming system could increase yields while reducing the operating cost and crop damage, and minimising the usage of water, fuel, fertiliser and pesticide to make farming environmentally friendly.  
 
She said the Centre will house two smart greenhouses, built with sensors of controlling lighting, temperature, humidity and data mining, which will be suitable for high valued crops cultivation and production as well as weather resilience for cyclone and earthquake.  One smart tissue culture lab is for manufacturing healthy seedlings and one training centre provides training programmes for farmers, advanced programs and research programmes for vocational school and university students.  
 
She emphasised that smart farming not only stands for a new chapter for Taiwan-Fiji agriculture co-operation partnerships, but also demonstrates a new era for Fiji’s advanced agricultural development and even a step stone to the world’s newest trend of ‘smart farming’—the next generation agriculture developments.
 
The Ministry’s representative, on behalf of the government of Fiji, expressed his sincere appreciation to the government of Taiwan for setting up the Center.  
 
He mentioned that since 1978, Taiwan Technical Mission has spared no effort to assist Fiji in agricultural development, such as setting up the demonstration farms and aquaculture center to produce seedlings and fry, coaching farmers and the recent introduction of guava and dragon fruit which are popular among Fijians.
 
He believed the Centre will enhance Fiji’s capability in agriculture and encouraged the Ministry’s staff and college students to learn at the facility and hone in on their knowledge and skills.
 
The ground breaking ceremony was attended by more than 50 officers from Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Station, Methodist Lay Training College, Taipei Trade Office and Taiwan Technical Mission.

SOURCE: TAIWAN TRADE MISSION/PACNEWS

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