Farmers in Korotari, Labasa, are embracing sustainable land use practices, focusing on climate-smart agriculture and food security as they move away from traditional cane farming. Advisory Counsellor Satish Chand highlighted that this initiative is designed to assist landowners in leveraging vacant land as an income source while combating the vegetable shortage in the Labasa market.
Chand emphasized the importance of sharing knowledge and practices among farmers, especially for iTaukei landowners. The Ministry is encouraging these farmers to diversify their crops beyond yaqona and cassava to include a variety of vegetables. “Vegetable farming is very rare in iTaukei farmlands, so the Ministry is promoting the planting of cabbage, tomatoes, watermelon, cucumber and other crops that can be supplied to the market,” he stated. This initiative is part of the Land Resources Planning and Development programme, which has already begun providing benefits to farmers in the region.
Despite the promising shift towards vegetable production, challenges remain. Farmer Anand Kumar expressed concerns about climate-related issues, stating that flooding from November to April and drought from June to November pose significant risks. He explained, “During the drought, we have to use water pumps. My farm is on hilly land, so I mostly plant tubua on the hills.”
While Korotari has historically been recognized as a major sugar-producing area, the local farming community is now expanding its horizons by increasing vegetable cultivation along the Korotari River. By effectively utilizing vacant farmland, these farmers aim to enhance their incomes and strengthen the local food supply in the coming year, showcasing a hopeful transition towards resilience and sustainability in agriculture.
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