My paternal side originates from Nadi and my maternal side originates from Sigatoka. I have 3 siblings, all brothers and older then me located in Nadi.

I have been studying and living in Suva for over 8 years now and received my Bachelors of Vet Science and Animal Science Degree from FNU. After 6 months of internship in three different areas (small animals, large animals and poultry), I worked as a veterinary clinician/nurse at Vet Essentials Animal Doctors (small animals) . I worked there for 2.5 years until being offered this ACIAR Scholarship. I also have an interest in pet grooming and I recently did a certificate course in dog grooming through New Skills Academy.

The two years of work experience in a clinic, allowed me to identify the needs of animal owners and how these are being served. On a daily basis, the needs of companion animal owners and even livestock farmers are increasing in Fiji, but not all are met. Livestock farmers are mostly dependent on the Government (Ministry of Agriculture) to cater for their needs, who is not in a position to provide all services.

My research therefore will be based on the demands of livestock farmers, how efficient the government is in providing services, and whether government is keen to let private sectors provide services to the livestock farmers. Supply and demand of services are massively dependent on one factor: willingness to pay. This research will also closely focus on how willing farmers are to pay private sector providers which may be costlier than what government provides.

I am very excited about my research topic as by the end of this project we will know how livestock farmers are coping with services provided and how willing the government as well as the livestock farmers are to embrace private sectorisation.

• Animal Health Care Services in Fiji (Supply and Demand)

• Willingness of Livestock Farmers to Pay

• Factors affecting the Willingness of Farmers to Pay

• Public and Private Veterinarians and their services

• One Health

Masters by Research
Project Title: Supply and demand of animal health care services in the Pacific Region.

ACIAR Project – LS/2019/119 Enhancing the Management of Antimicrobial Resistance (EMAR)

Supervisor: Dr Royford Magiri, FNU
ACIAR Co-Supervisor: Dr. Walter Okello, CSIRO

Click here for more information (available on the ACIAR website)

LinkedIn: Razia Rashid