In its final stages, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Strategic Development Plan for the period 2019- 2023 will soon come to fruition.

A Strategic Development Plan is an institutional document to deliver the aspirations of the people of this country.

The ministry has been hosting a series of workshops for the finalisation of its plan.

A well-defined Strategic Plan will help with the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the Costed Operational Plans for the coming years.

The importance of having such a document is to guide implementation.

It will ensure that all planned activities are conducted in an efficient and effective manner considering the special needs of all stakeholders.

Officials can only successfully achieve their targeted outcomes for each strategic priorities despite challenges, if they clearly adhere and take ownership of their plan.

The line mister Mahendra Reddy stated that in the past two years they had greatly anticipated the completion of this plan.

Since the drafting stage begun, the ministry have had a few international consultants from global partners that have assisted them in the process.

At the end of 2017, a draft Strategic Plan was developed by a consultant, funded by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, in close consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture.

This Strategic Plan was then revised in the latter half of 2018 to be in line with new Government priorities and updated sector trends. In the beginning of January 2019, we had a two-day workshop in Nadi with key ministry staff and stakeholders.

Mr Reddy is happy that they have finally reached this stage. He stated they should not lose momentum and continue to push through to ensure that they come up with the best plan for Fiji’s Agriculture Sector.

Looking forward to what the Ministry of Agriculture’s Strategic Development Plan for the period 2019- 2023 has to offer.

Feedback: maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj