A total 4,024 farmers and groups around the country will benefit from Government’s Demand Driven Approach Programmes (DDA) for the year 2010.
And the latest development programme introduced by Government through the Department of Agriculture is the Rotuma Island Development Programme (RIDP).
The RIDP was introduced to facilitate the various activities that will be managed by the integral approach between the Crop Extension, Research, Bio-Security and the Animal Health and Production divisions.
Director extension services Mr Ropate Ligairi said it will also ensure the timely implementation and continuous flow of agricultural commodities earmarked under the Rotuma/Tuvalu trade.
“The success of this programme will directly or indirectly benefit more than 2000 people on the island and at the same time broaden the economic base of our economy,” explained Mr Ligairi.
The various DDA programmes in place are the Rural and Outer Island Programme (ROI), Import Substitution Programme (ISP), Export Promotion Program (EPP) and the Sigatoka Valley Improvement Programme (SVIP).
“Farmers in the Eastern division as well as the Northern division will benefit from the ROI Programme this year while farmers in the Central, Western and Northern division will benefit from the ISP Programme,” Mr Ligairi explained.
“As for the EPP Programmes, farmers from Bua, Cakaudrove and Ra have been earmarked to receive assistance this year.”
“At present, approximately 700 farmers are involved and will be directly benefiting from the implementation of the 2010 Sigatoka Valley Improvement Programme, and these farmers are engaged in the planting of mostly fruits and vegetables to meet both the local and overseas market demands,” Mr Ligairi said.
Mr Ligairi added that the impacts of the DDA Programmes since its inception in 2007 had attributed to the increased number of farmers pouring into the various offices around the country for advice and assistance.
“The success of the various DDA Programmes will no doubt expand the current production of respective DDA commodities and as a result will reduce import bills and increase exports.”
According to statistics provided by the Ministry’s AgTrade Division, total agricultural exports for the year 2009 was $602,037,599 while the total agricultural imports for 2009 stands at $580,155,005.