More than 150 rice farmers in Fiji are set to receive support from a government grant of $150,000 allocated to Fiji Rice Limited (FRL) for rice planting in the current financial year. The program, which is subsidized by the government, aims to assist rice farmers by lowering planting costs and enhancing production levels.
Chairman Raj Sharma indicated that the funding is anticipated to increase national rice production by 400 tonnes. He noted that with the current rate of $1,000 per acre for rice planting, it is expected that farmers will generate close to $400,000.
Sharma mentioned that there are plans to reshape the business model. He highlighted that the government is introducing various incentives, including upcoming subsidies for fertilizers and herbicides that farmers previously had limited access to. He also pointed out that the price per acre had increased from $850 to $1,000 in the past year.
According to the program details, commercial farmers, defined as those with land over 20 acres, will receive a maximum grant of $2,100 for up to seven acres, requiring them to cover 50 percent of the total costs.