Agriculture is of national interest.

Farmers need to expand on commercial farming and treat it like a business.

This was said by the Minister for Agriculture, Mahendra Reddy during a talanoa session at Koroqaqa in Baulevu yesterday.

The session was held after Mr Reddy handed over a portable rice mill to the community which would benefit 13 rice farmers.

Mr Reddy informed the farmers that they were to pay no more than seventy cents (70 cents), of which 40 cents would go towards the electricity and 30 cents towards the fund.

Ginger farmer, Osea Vula who was motivated by the initiative said he would now utilise a 10mnacre land for rice farming.

Mr Reddy applauded the bold move by the farmer and informed him that the ministry would assist him with the land preparation and would also provide 30 kilograms of rice seeds.

“We are no longer promoting the six month variety as it is very long for the mill to harvest, however we are encouraging farmers to use the three months variety bold grain, star, cagimaivou,” Mr Reddy said.

“This is to reduce the import bill on rice which is $42 million.”

Mr Reddy said it was time people grow their own vegetables, rice, dhal, dalo and cassava for food security sake.

Fertilizer
Mr Reddy said farmers should move towards organic farming.

He advised farmers to use poultry manure since fertilizers were costly.

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