There has been an increase in the number of Fijians who had opted for rice farming in Vanua Levu.

Rice farmers in Nadogo outside Labasa Town has increased in the past seven years.

In Lagalaga outside Labasa Town, there are now 50 rice farmers compared to 10 before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lagalaga Rice Farmers Association president Arun Deo said the recent support from the Ministry of Agriculture in terms of providing machinery had eased a lot of burden.

“Imagine what used to be a barren land once is now blessed with rice for home consumption and used as a source of income,” Mr Deo said.

“The brown rice we harvest is high in fibre and has a lot more nutritious value then the white rice on the supermarket shelves.”

He said farmers sell their paddy to Fiji Rice Limited at around $800 per tonne.

“We are urging unemployed people including youths to invest in rice farming.”

He said gone are the days where only some parts of Vanua Levu like Maunidevo in Dreketi were known for rice farming.

Meanwhile, Fiji Rice Limited is working with the Fiji Development Bank on a special loan package for rice farmers.

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