Visually-Impaired Farmer Becomes One Of First To Receive Cash For Crops Initiative

A visually-impaired farmer in Ba has become one of the first recipients for the Ministry of Agriculutre’s Cash for Cultivation initiative.

Bishun Dutt was among 116 farmers in the Western Division to receive part of the cash promised to farmers through the initiative.

Mr Dutt became visually-impaired 12 years ago after an illness, but that did not stop him from doing what he does best – farming.

Ba farmers with the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Waterways, Mahendra Reddy (front row, middle) after receiving their first tranche of the ‘Cash for Cultivation’ in Ba on March 17, 2021. Photo: Susana Hirst-Tuilau

“When the hotels open the demand will triple or quadruple and we don’t want to find ourselves in a situation where we are not ready to supply to the hotels and the other sectors.

“We are now talking to the hotel industry saying that they should now look within. They should stop importing vegetables, they should buy it locally. The question is, are we ready?”

The ‘Cash for Cultivation’ programme is part of the immediate recovery after the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclones Yasa and Ana.

The assistance is from the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Fiji and the Ministry of Agriculture as part of the Strengthening Early Recovery for Food Security and Livelihoods (SERFSAL) project funded by the NZ Aid Programme.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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