CAPTION: Management and staff of FRIEND seen with the visiting members from European Union. Photo: FRIEND Facebook.
FRIEND is organizing its inaugural FARMER CONFERENCE on April 16that the Girmit Center in Lautoka.
Four hundred farmers have registered for the one day forum that be will be bringing together GROW beneficiaries from the Western Division. We are hopeful that the event will provide the participants an opportunity to share experiences and support each other better utilise their available resources for successful income generating opportunities through Cash Crop farming, Free Range Poultry and Beekeeping for improved livelihoods.
A highlight of the forum will feature GROW videos of success stories of local farmers benefiting from the European Union Funded project implemented by FRIEND as well as other selected farmer panelists involved in the project.
Manager GROW, Sandhya Narayan says “We hope to inspire other project holders to take advantage of the project and improve their livelihoods. We will also be announcing the launch of “GROW Awards for Best Practices” to be announced at the end of project period in 2014 to provide recognition to outstanding project holders for various initiatives of the European Union Funded GROW projects.”
The forum will also feature five breakout sessions with discussions focusing on Reaping high yields and economic returns from Cash Crop, Planning for high returns in Poultry, Easy Value addition/ food preservation for earning household income, Combining bee keeping with cash crops and Planting fruit orchards for long term returns.
The FARMER CONFERENCE will include farmers from between Rakiraki to Sigatoka as well as some participants from Vanua Levu.
PRESS RELEASE