Dairy and sugar cane farmers in the western division especially those from Ba today thanked government for its vision in reviving the dairy industry.
Farmers representative Liyakat Ali said he could not be more happy as they now have a supplementary income from their cattle.
Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama opened the milk chilling machine today.
"I thank Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama for coming down to Ba and thinking about farmers this side (western division)," he said.
"I have 12 cattles and I just use the milk at home and sell it in the market or from home just like other farmers here in Ba but this new chilling machine will help us a lot."
The Prime Minister said farmers need to start thinking outside the box if Fiji was to progress.
"We consume 77 million litres on milk annually but we do not produce half of the consumption demand here locally," Prime Minister Bainimarama said.
"But I am sure that you will assist other Fijians in bringing down our dairy product import bills and buy more Fijian made products."
The chilling machine is based at the Southern Cross Foods Limited in Yalalevu, Ba.
The Prime Minister also handed over 80 milk cans and 50 cattle's to the farmers on behalf of SC Foods.
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