iTaukei Eyed for Rice Farming
“There is adequate assistance available for land preparation, and by planting rice, new farmers can become sustainable farmers,” Mr Chand indicated.
Thursday 23 May 2024 | 11:50
Agricultural farmers and landowners of Wailevu Village in Labasa are optimistic of collaborating with Fiji Rice Limited and Public Enterprises Ministry on engaging in rice farming. Permanent Secretary for Public Enterprises, Parmesh Chand (seated, fourth from left), with Tui Wailevu Ratu Laisiasa Niumataiwalu. Photo: Sampras Anand
Engaging iTaukei in rice farming is important to exploring the maximum capacity of farming rice in Fiji.
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Public Enterprises, Parmesh Chand believes iTaukei farmers and landowners possess a good communal labour force.
“There is good availability of manpower and youths available in villages who can work on farms, which is a win-win for both farmers and labourers,” he said.
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He shared this during his meeting with landowners and farmers at Wailevu Village, Labasa, on Tuesday.
“There is interest among iTaukei farmers to grow rice, so we see the price increase of paddy rice has flowed on benefit,” he said.
Mr Chand said the price increase in Grades A and B of rice paddy could be a contributing factor to the influx of farmers into rice farming.
He said rice farming required extensive labour in the planting and harvesting processes, and the community bond among iTaukei could boost rice production.
“There is adequate assistance available for land preparation, and by planting rice, new farmers can become sustainable farmers,” Mr Chand indicated.
He said iTaukei farmers had land, and this could ensure rice farming was disturbed due to land renewal issues.
Landowner turns to rice farming
A landowner at Wailevu Village wants to use his 16-acre idle land for commercial rice farming.
Village headman Jeff Bera said it’s about time he generated income from his idle land.
He said rice farming seemed to present the best return on his land, with recent increases in rice paddy prices for Grades A and B.
Mr Bera attended an informative session where Mr Chand and Fiji Rice Limited board chairperson, Raj Sharma, told them about rice farming benefits.
“This is totally new for iTaukei to venture into rice farming,” he said.
He supported the call for more rice farming training to help new farmers learn the ‘know-how’s’ of the trade.
Mr Chand said rice farming was one of the crops widely grown before, but, it has been limited to a few farmers today.
“There is no reason. Why can’t it be revived and produced on a large commercial scale because the profit margin is high with increased international prices?” he said.
Feedback: sampras.anand@fijisun.com.fj
