Local Rice Production Increases: Mahendra Reddy
Fiji’s rice import bill has dropped to 80 per cent of local consumption, Minister for Agriculture, Mahendra Reddy, has said.
The Government aims to reduce dependence on imported rice, he said.
His comments followed the handover of portable rice mills to rice cluster communities in Lagalaga, outside Labasa.
Mr Reddy said the rice industry had made promising strides in the last two years by reducing the total rice import levels.
In 2020, the rice import bill was 84 per cent of local consumption, or $42 million, he said.
Improved local production of rice this year is expected Fiji’s self-sufficiency levels to 22 per cent.
“We are getting closer to our target of at least 60 per cent of rice to be produced within Fiji,” Mr Reddy said.
A total of 13 portable rice mills were handed to rice cluster communities in Lagalaga, Daku and Bua, and other parts of Labasa.
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