Lagalaga Central Committee Rice Farmers president Arun Deo (left) stating his opinion as Assistant Minister for Agriculture Viam Pillay (right) listens during a meeting with rice farmers at Lagalaga Sanatan Primary School on February 23, 2018. Photo: Shratika Naidu
Assistant Minister for Agriculture Viam Pillay has urged rice farmers to work together, stay united and to ignore rumours that cause division.
During his monitoring visit yesterday with the rice farmers at Lagalaga Sanatan Primary School, which is about 53km from Labasa Town, he said he wanted them to work together and increase rice production.
“The Ministry of Agriculture is willing to assist any farmer or anyone who works hard and does farming,” Mr Pillay said.
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“No assistance is based on ethnicity.
“The rice farmers in and around Lagalaga area requested for assistance for their land preparation and machines and I assured them we will help and I will visit their farm to see whether work has been done or not.”
Lagalaga Central Committee Rice Farmers president Arun Deo, before the gathering, said FijiFirst was the first Government that heard their requests and came forward with the assistance within a month.
“In Lagalaga there are 60 rice farmers and I am also looking after the Nubu, Kurukuru and Kilikoso area and in total there are 150 farmers,” Mr Deo said.
“With the Ministry of Agriculture’s assistance, many rice farmers feel the revival within themselves and confidence that there is a future in rice farming. They are motivated now.
“Many people had left farming, sold their land and moved to Viti Levu.
“Now with the Ministry of Agriculture taking immediate action such as helping schools with nurseries, the young generation for sure will enjoy farming and choose to stay back and do farming and hence gradually the population will increase in Vanua Levu.”
Mr Pillay requested them to stay united and encourage more farmers to join them in rice farming.
Edited by Mohammed Zulfikar
