Farmers told to prepare as El Niño strengthens

The Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways has not yet allocated specific support for farmers facing El Niño-driven dry conditions.

Permanent Secretary Andrew Tukana said the Ministry will only step in once a need is confirmed through ongoing monitoring.

“We’ll just have to continue to monitor,” Mr Tukana told this masthead on Friday.

“Then if there comes such a time when there will be a need, then we would analyse it, look into it.”

His comments come as the Fiji Meteorological Service confirms El Niño is underway and strengthening, with forecasters warning conditions could turn strong to very strong.

Mr Tukana said the western division and other traditionally dry parts of the country were most likely to be exposed, while most crops would be affected once soil moisture ran short during critical growth stages.

“You might have to revert to other things like irrigation to support water,” he said.

He urged farmers to harvest and store rainwater now while conditions allow, noting the Central Division continued to receive rain even as other areas dried out.

“Besides the cold, farmers need to be able to use water wisely as well as to store water when there’s rain,” Mr Tukana said.

Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau has separately warned Fiji faces its driest period between October and December.

The Water Authority of Fiji is already activating dry-weather contingency plans nationwide as 44 monitored water sources come under strain.