The draft Fiji Livestock Bill and the 2020 Agriculture Policy documents were highlighted to stakeholders attending the Fiji Livestock Sector Forum Meeting at the Tanoa International Hotel which continues this week in Nadi.
This was part of efforts to get stakeholder feedback on the draft Bill and to see a way forward in terms of implementing the 2020 Agriculture Policy from the viewpoint of the livestock industry.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s acting deputy secretary for agriculture development, Miliakere Nawaikula, presented the draft Feed Bill which she said, is currently undergoing consultations before it is presented to Cabinet and Parliament for endorsement.
“The Bill has come about as a means of addressing the constraints on livestock food which has been a long time limiting factor to the sector.”
Ms Nawaikula said the Bill is to control and regulate the production and sale of the Livestock Feed.
“The initiative has been around since 2008 when the document was drafted and the proposed Bill is being divided into at least four (4) main parts.”
“Part 1 is on the appointment of an Analyst and Registration, Part 11 deals with Vendors Responsibilities for Sale of Livestock Feeds, Part 111 deals with Offences and there is also a Provision of the Interpretation at the beginning of the Bill to standardize definitions as it applies to the Bill,” she said.
The Bill is also proposing for the formation of a Council to be appointed by the Minister and feed experts to be included in the Council.
Ms Nawaikula said that newer additions to the Bill include aspects on Disaster emergency response where Government feels that there is a need to protect animals from hunger and thirst, price control on livestock feed and inspecting Manufacturers for every new batch of feeds put out.
She added that the Bill is expected to be presented in Cabinet later this year.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture’s acting Chief Economist, Pauliasi Tuilau presented to the Forum the 2020 Agriculture Policy that was launched in August last year by the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.
Mr Tuilau said the 2020 Policy agenda was created after wide public consultation with stakeholders and with the intent of having a diversified economic and environmental sustainable agriculture economy in Fiji.
He said the purpose was to build a modern and organised agriculture in Fiji, develop an integrated infrastructure support system for agriculture, improve delivery of agriculture support services, enhance capabilities to generate fund and secure investment through foreign investment, public private partnership and other innovative business arrangements and improve project implementation and policy formulation.
Press Release