Festival Committe’s First Rice Farm Project In North
“It is unfortunate that due to COVID-19 we couldn’t organise the festival for the northerners this year,” Mr Maharaj said.
Friday 11 December 2020 | 18:31
Fiji Rice Limited general manager Ashrit Pratap (third from the left), Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North president Rajneel Maharaj (sixth from left) with staff members of Fiji Rice and Vodafone Fiji after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in Labasa on December 3, 2020
Fiji Rice Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North committee to utilise their barren land for rice farming in Labasa.
The ten-acre land at Vulovi in Labasa was initially bought by the committee to build a multipurpose hall.
However, the project was on hold due to COVID-19.
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Fiji Rice Limited general manager Ashrit Pratap said the committee approached Fiji Rice at the beginning of the year and after few negotiations, they agreed on the farm project.
“Under the scheme, FRL will develop the land, plant rice and after
harvesting the cost will be deducted while the proceeds will be given to the committee,” Mr Pratap said.
“The engagement is for three years.”
He said FRL was aware of the committee being a charitable organisation had carried out numerous community projects in the Northern Division.
“We understand that due to COVID-19 the committee was unable to host the festival this year so this rice project will definitely generate some income,” he added.
“This is also a way for FRL to contribute towards the community as part of our social corporate responsibility.”
He said they had also discussed the possibility of planting other crops during the off season period and the farm will be engaged throughout the year.
“We expect to start farm development from next week,” he said.
“We also expect to plant around eight acres this season with an expected minimum production of eight tonnes.
“The total expected income will be around $6,400.”
Meanwhile, Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North committee president Rajneel Maharaj said after the committee members agreed with the idea of having a rice project then MOU was done.
“It is unfortunate that due to COVID-19 we couldn’t organise the festival for the northerners this year,” Mr Maharaj said.
“Whatever proceeds we collect from this festival is always used for the much-needed community projects.”
He said while they waited for the vaccine to come to Fiji and everything to get back to normal, they decided to make good use of the land.
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