Floodwaters Saddens Naitasiri Dalo Farmer
| Farmer Lepani Vakalele yesterday stood helplessly when the Wainimala River in Naitasiri broke its banks resulting in the floods that destroyed his dalo and potato farm. |
Holding back his tears, the Naluwai villager said it was like witnessing his life shattered into pieces.
He reached the pinnacle of his farming career when he won the Best Potato Farmer of The Year Award in the Naitasiri Province last year.
When the Fiji Sun team arrived at the Vunidawa Bridge yesterday, the bridge to the Government compound was under flood waters and couldn’t been seen.
The Naqali flats were heavily flooded at 10am yesterday, with water reaching more than two metres the normal level.
The road to Waidracia and Serea was also underwater.
“I am really saddened by this, for the last nine months I have worked so hard toiling my farm with the aim to help me get some money for Christmas,” Mr Vakalele said.
“My Christmas and New Year festivities has been completely ruined, I was planning to harvest the dalo this week and take them to Suva Market, the money was for my Christmas shopping,” Mr Vakalele said.
He said the worth of the ruined crops at his dalo farm was more than $10,000.
Mr Vakalele said he has lost around one tonne of potatoes from the flooding.
Edited by Rusiate Mataika
