They're Learning

To Be Fiji Farmers

Navuso Agriculture School in Fiji has started a student farmer scheme , and 12 students have already started on a three year course.

THE boys at Navuso and others from the Ratu Kadavulevu School have cleared and levelled sites in difficult bush country near Navuso and erected, as part of the school’s trade course, small three-roomed houses for occupation by the student farmers.

Two farmers will jointly occupv each house, and each student will farm about eight acres of subsist ance crops and cash crops, includ ing bananas, cocoa and coffee. Each boy will also have 48 head of poultry.

The boys receive a monthly allow ance and all farm produce will be costed. Any profits will be banked in trust for the students. It is hoped the farms will be fully productive in seven years.

The photos show (top) student farmer Matia Tokalolo surveying the property he will share with Epeli Naiseku. Centre: the Gov ernor, Sir Kenneth Maddocks, and his party climb a steep bush track on the way to visit the farmers re cently and (bottom) Sir Kenneth shakes hands with the 12 young farmers.

Photos: Rob Wright