Grog Farmers In Macuata Happy With New Crossing
Heavy rain from the recent Tropical Cyclone Josie and Tropical Cyclone Keni has done little to deter roads works in areas such as Wainikoro, Macuata.
Yaqona farmers depend so much on easy market access. The pressure has been on Fulton Hogan Hiways, who has been contracted by Fiji Roads Authority to repair and restore damaged crossings.
For farmers like Teti Bili any indication of improvements in accessibility in areas such as Nadogovalovoni in Wainikoro, 20 kilometres outside Labasa, is a blessing.
“To get our yaqona and other cash crops into Labasa, we previously just laid some big logs across the stream so that our trucks and even the school bus can cross,” Mr Bili said.
He says the area is now home to many yaqona farmers who have relocated from Viti Levu because of its suitable weather.
Unfortunately the logs which gradually started to rot have become more of a barrier for passing debris, clogging up the crossing and also resulting in wash outs that make it impossible to pass during heavy rain.
With the help of an excavator, FHH subcontractors removed the debris and the heavy logs replacing them instead with proper 10.50-millimetre diameter culverts.
“These rural roads were previously outside our normal work programme. But because more people are now using them, we have already carried out works such as removing high shoulders and replacing them with new culverts,” says Supervisor Labasa Pauliasi Qalo.
Several truckloads of aggregates were also placed over the culverts to allow for smoother vehicle access over it.
“Before farmers here could only take their harvest maybe once every two weeks into the market in Labasa or all the way to Suva if they wanted maximum returns. Now with the improved crossings and regular upgrading works, they can access the markets more regularly and also make more money,” says another resident farmer Josese Yavala from Nasasa.
“It is always pleasing to see the smiles on residents and farmers’ faces here who depend heavily on such rural roads and crossings,” said Mr Qalo.
Rural Service Licence or RSL operators mostly service the area.
Source: Fulton Hogan Hiways
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