The Total value of damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Winston to the Agriculture Sector is $208.3 million.

Ministry of Agriculture Acting  Permanent secretary, Uraia Waibuta said that the damage to the sector included crops, livestock and infrastructure, excluding the sugar sector.

He said that the Northern Division suffered the most damage during TC Winston.

“Bulk of the damage sustained was in the Northern Division with $93.8 million, whereas the Western division recorded $52.8million, Central division $40.5million and $21.2million in the Eastern Division”.

Mr. Waibuta said that Vanuabalavu, Lomaiviti, Cakaudrove, Bua, Tailevu North and Ra were identified as the most affected areas.

However, he added that the interior parts of the Island were also affected, which include Naitasiri, Navosa and other surrounding areas in the Sigatoka Valley.

With Yaqona being one of the major commodities for local and export market and of high value, it suffered $116 million of damage.

“The total value of standing crop of yaqona before the cyclone was $498.8 million but the total value of yaqona damaged is around $116million”, said Mr Waibuta.

All the  yaqona in Koro Island and Taveuni was totally devastated.

Shortly there will be a drastic increase in price because bulk of the areas sending yaqona to the market has been affected which are Koro, Taveuni and part of Ra, he added.

“But we are thankful that Kadavu, Serua, Namosi, and part of Naitasiri and Tailevu are still able to supply some of the yaqona in the local market”.

Dalo is the other major commodity that has been affected by the cyclone.

“The total value of damage to taro (Dalo) was around $20 million.

“The exact figure is $17.9 million and bulk of that is in the Northern division in Taveuni, Cakaudrove main land and also part of Ra”, said Mr Waibuta.

Waibuta  added there are about $55million worth of Dalo that can be recovered and harvested for the local and export market after the cyclone from the areas of Central Tailevu, Tailevu South, Serua, Namosi, and lower Naitasiri.

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