Villagers of the Sagaga No. 4 District last Friday marked both their talomua (first harvest) festival and the country's 60th Independence anniversary celebration.

The double celebration was held at Saleimoa village on Friday morning with over 100 residents together with Government officials including Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, La’auli Leuatea Schmidt joining the residents.

The official program started with a prayer led by Bishop Vai Faamau before representatives of the seven sub-villages that make up the district led the traditional Samoan performances. 

Giving the keynote address, La’auli reflected on the significance of a first harvest for the district and how change always comes with the first harvest.

"It was the first harvest in agriculture and fisheries in our district Sagaga No. 4 for this year, all these demonstrations of the agricultural and fishing offices in Apia and Savai'i were combined," said the Minister. 

"But there is a new change there must be a first harvest in different districts and there were 51 districts in Upolu and Savai'i."

La’auli said it is the long-term plan of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (M.A.F.) to bring together all the farmers and fishermen of Samoa to work hard for the country's better future.

He also acknowledged the participation of all the district's farmers representing the various different families and farms.

"We can get the chance to work together to have enough food for our parents and also children as we all know we faced lot of problems everyday, even so we have been affected by COVID-19 especially the high quality life we have.

"We need to support each other and be prepared for the days that had come. Sagaga has an important role to play in exporting our food overseas.

"A lot of problems we face has led to the drop in productivity of our people on our land." 

As part of the celebrations last Friday, the M.A.F. also presented farming tools and equipment as well as seedlings of various crops to the Sagaga No. 4 District. 

"It was the first time harvest of agriculture and fisheries for Sagaga No. 4 District this year," the Minister added.