The Waidamudamu Farmers Coop­erative Limited in Vunimoli Set­tlement received a boost after the government provided members with fi­nancial assistance to purchase a tractor.

On Monday, Minister for Trade, Co-Op­eratives and Small and Medium Enter­prises and Communications, Manoa Ka­mikamica, handed over a tractor with a three-disc plough and a 5.5 feet Rotovator worth $54,950 to the cooperative.

The cooperative contributed $18,316.67, and the government paid for the rest.

Chairperson, Rahimat Allam, said farmers in the settlement had been un­able to reach their maximum production potential due to the lack of machines like tractors and farming implements. “We formed this cooperative last year and only three farmers had their own trac­tor,” Mr Allam said.

With the assistance, Mr Allam believed more young people would show interest in the sugarcane and rice farming busi­ness.

According to Mr Kamikamica, the land currently under cultivation was 200.32 acres, which has been contracted to Fiji Sugar Corporation for sugar production.

“The current production has been 1,8771.68 tonnes out of the potential of harvesting 3,270 tonnes,” Mr Kamikam­ica said.

“The interventions of mechanised farming should increase production that will allow the full realisation of the 100 per cent tonnages as estimated.”

Mr Kamikamica added that the tractor could also be used for land preparation in the cultivation of other crops such as rice, which can fetch up to $800 per tonne, thereby promoting food security and contributing to an increase in household income, improvement in living stand­ards, better housing, education, and the affordability of daily living expenses.

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Story By: shratikan@fijisun.com.fj