Minister promises better service to Rabi

The Ministry of Agriculture will ensure improved service delivery to Rabi Island despite maintaining its current administrative structure.

Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry Tomasi Tunabuna was responding yesterday to calls from Rabi Island administrator Iakoba Karutake for the island to have its own agriculture office with dedicated funding.

“I will make sure that actual delivery of service to Rabi and Kioa are done to address the needs,” Mr Tunabuna said in an interview on Friday.

The Minister explained that Rabi was not under Taveuni’s jurisdiction but formed part of a district-based administrative system.

“Both Rabi and Taveuni are under Savusavu Administration, the senior agriculture officer,” he said.

“Administratively, different districts fall into different district administrations, rather than the provincial administration.”

Mr Tunabuna acknowledged the unique challenges faced by island communities.

“We normally have challenges when we work on islands simply because of location, simply because some islands will probably be able to grow more crops compared to other islands depending on the land type and the climate,” he said.

He added that Rabi was better positioned than other remote islands due to its proximity to mainland Vanua Levu.

“Rabi is more blessed because it’s closer to mainland Vanua Levu as compared to islands like Vanuabalavu, Ono-i-Lau or other islands,” Mr Tunabuna said.

Mr Karutake had called for Rabi to have senior agriculture officers, vehicles and equipment to support the commercial farming of crops such as kava, dalo, cassava and ginger.