The Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Vatimi Rayalu, has promised rice farmers in Dreketi, Macuata, that all drainage issues will be thoroughly addressed. He announced that a drainage board has been established to tackle these concerns.
Farmers in Vanua Levu are being encouraged to utilize this opportunity by visiting the drainage board office located in Labasa. One farmer, 75-year-old Ram Khewal, commended the government’s drainage work completed at Laqere, Tabia, Labasa, noting that over 50 percent of the project has been finished.
Khewal, who is also the president of the Laqere Tabia Farmers Cooperative, called for the construction of a seawall at their farming site to protect against damage to rice fields. He pointed out that heavy rainfall annually destroys around 30 acres of rice crops, which poses a significant threat to local farmers and food security.
“We have been requesting a seawall for at least four years now, but nothing has been done by the Government or the Ministry of Waterways,” he stated. Khewal plans to apply for the rice planting subsidy but believes that more initiatives could be implemented to boost rice production.
He suggested that there should be more opportunities for consultations and discussions, allowing farmers to engage with relevant authorities and the government to voice their concerns and propose collaborative solutions to drainage problems. Similar drainage improvements have also been made in Soasoa, Labasa, an area that is prone to flooding during heavy rainfall.