More than 60 rice farmers in Korokadi, Bua, will not need to worry about their farms being deprived of water.

This is after the Ministry of Waterways desilted 21 kilometres of primary and secondary canals in the area.

Advisory councillor for Korokadi Mohammed Janif and ten farmers gathered at Korokadi on Thursday afternoon to thank Minister for Waterways Mahendra Reddy for the desilting work.

“Mr Reddy assured us last month that desilting of secondary and primary irrigation canal work will be done before his next visit and we thank him for keeping his promise when he visited us now,” Mr Janif said.

“The canal for so many years was covered with mud, tall grass and rocks and that it disturbed the clear flow of water to farms.

“As a result, farms didn’t receive water causing lot of problems for farmers when planting and harvesting rice.”

Mohammed Feroz, a rice farmer of Korokadi, said now with the much timely assistance by the ministry, farms will get easy access water and rice will be of good quality.

“For so many years we have been running here and there requesting assistance so that farmers can survive,” Mr Feroz said.

Mr Reddy is in Vanua Levu this weekend having public consultations. Edited by Epineri Vula

Feedback:  shratikan@fijisun.com.fj