Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development & National Disaster Management, Mr Inia Seruiratu. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
Government has achieved another milestone through the construction of a National Insect Museum and refurbishment of a staff room at Koronivia Research Station.
While commissioning the Museum and staff room, Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development & National Disaster Management, Mr Inia Seruiratu said these facilities will assist staff better in their daily operation.
“The new office and insect collection will help staff to effectively carry out their work to better understand the impact of insect pest and have a reference point that will assist in diagnosing pest problems,” Minister Seruiratu said.
“This would not only ensure the safety of the insect specimens collected from around Fiji, preserved since early 1900s, but would also assist agriculture stakeholders in pest risk analysis services and in the process facilitate trades.”
The staff room will provide the officers with a separate office space which will eliminate high culture contamination which has been detected over the years in the laboratories.
Minister Seruiratu said these facilities will improve the quality and efficiency of pest diagnostics undertaken in the laboratories.
“The outcome of this development is enormous as it will provide quality, cost-effective and timely research data for pest and disease diagnostics for clients,” Minister Seruiratu added.
The total project cost the government $250,000.
Press Release