The Grace Road Food Company (GRFC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Mataqali Tacilevu from Matacaucau village in Korovou this week as part of the Company’s efforts to reach the Government’s vision of self-sufficiency in rice production by the year 2020.
Speaking in the iTaukei language, representative of the Mataqali, Mr Nemani Seru said that they were grateful to Grace Road Food for this timely initiative.
“The signing of the MOU was made possible after a series of discussions with the company and the Ministry of Agriculture. We are fortunate that the Ministry acted as a mediator between the Mataqali (clan) and the company and are grateful to them in initiating the meeting,” he said.
Mr Seru said that they will work together with the Company to grow rice on more than 300 acres of the Mataqali land.
“Part of this land was used for grazing by the Fulton College in the past and has now been given back to the Mataqali by the iTaukei Land Trust Board.”
Grace Road Food Company managing director Daniel Kim said, the signing of the MOU marks the beginning of a partnership between the company and the Mataqali.
“The development in the area will involve a lot of time and commitment from both parties,” Mr Kim said.