Acting Commissioner Northern Division Mr. Uraia Rainima has been directed to reactivate the rice taskforce to revive rice production in the North.
Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Hon. Inia Seruiratu made the directive during his visit to Fiji Rice Ltd at Dreketi in Macuata on Wednesday.
He said what Fiji needed to do now was to increase rice production.
“For us now, the imports will be less because of flights so we want to rely now on local production,” Minister Seruiratu said.
“There’s opportunity for us there.”
Minister Seruiratu also said the Government was still paying a lot of money in maintaining infrastructure. He said this was a very critical time for most production lines.
Minister Seruiratu alluded to the high demand of rice regardless of the possible reduction in imports.
He said, “What we need to do is up rice production”.
As part of programme scheduled for his first day of his Northern Division tour, Minister Seruiratu visited the rice production mill and also went out to see some rice farms in Dreketi.