Faulty floodgate leads to agricultural losses

Government assistance implemented years ago to boost rice productivity at Laqere, Tabia, Labasa, is now killing the hopes of farmers.

Farmers in the area are calling for the intermediate intervention of the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways to repair the floodgates to stop seawater spilling into their farms.

Appeal

The rice farmers, who are members of the Laqere Tabia Farmers’ Cooperative, want the floodgate repaired to prevent seawater inundation.

This issue was raised when the Permanent Secretary for Public Service and Public Enterprises, Parmesh Chand, met farmers in Labasa on Tuesday.

Cooperative president Ram Kewal requested Mr Chand and Fiji Rice Limited (FRL) board chairperson, Raj Sharma, to build a proper floodgate to solve this problem.

He said the existing floodgate had stopped working, allowing seawater to spill into rice farms.

“The proper drainage or prevention of this inflow is the biggest challenge our farmers face here,” he said.

The cooperative is home to 41 farmers who depend on rice farming as a source of income for their families. Mr Kewal claims a good portion of their rice fields are affected by seawater intrusion.

“Another option is an access drain to divert water from our farms,” he said.

Another farmer, Shiu Prasad, 77, said he could not supply rice because seawater had damaged his land.

“The last time I sold three tonnes of rice to FRL was three years ago,” he said.

“Unless this water intrusion problem is solved, we won’t be able to increase production or even farm rice.”

Mr Sharma acknowledged the problem and drainage issues affecting farmers, saying submissions on the allocation of funds for drainage assistance were made but submitted late.

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