The output from agricultural products is woefully inadequate.

This was highlighted by Permanent Secretary for Agriculture Dr Richard Beyer at the Fiji Institute of Accountants Congress which ended yesterday, saying this was a result of the lack of a feedback monitoring system within the Ministry.

Dr Beyer said the Agriculture Ministry was working in isolation from all other government initiatives and imports and exports fluctuated wildly.

He added prior to February 2008, money was allocated on a commodity basis, and there was no connection between the Fiscal Aims of the Government and the activities of the Agriculture Ministry.

Dr Beyer said a strategy was altered to assist farmers by providing funds for activities falling under clearly defined programmes, and a number of awareness raising programs such as the Teitei competition in hotels and resorts will hopefully control the fluctuation of imports and export figures of agriculture products.