A workshop aimed at revitalizing the rice industry in Fiji was held in Navua today.
More than 100 farmers from the rice farming areas of Fiji, especially from Serua and Namosi, attended the workshop.
Agriculture permanent secretary Colonel Mason Smith told participants that the workshop was part of Government’s revival of the rice industry in Fiji.
PS Agriculture, Mr Mason Smith
“The discussion today is designed to create awareness on the need to retain agricultural land for rice farming in the Navua Irrigation Scheme,” Colonel Smith said.
“The workshop is in line with Government’s goal for ‘Food Secure Fiji’.
“Government has directed the Department of Agriculture to improve the quality of domestic commodities to substitute imports like rice,” Colonel Smith said.
“Fiji has 3,517 rice growing farmers producing 7,6oo tons of rice each year, which is not enough to cater for our domestic demand.”
Fiji spends $40million annually to buy 44,000 tons of rice from overseas.
Colonel Smith told the workshop participants that Government was serious about revitalising Fiji’s rice industry.
“That is why we are establishing a desk officer for rice in the ministry. We are also sending staff and farmers overseas to learn the best techniques of rice cultivation and we are conducting research to find the most suitable yielding variety of rice which is suitable for Fiji’s growing conditions,” the permanent secretary said
“There is an increase in production in Dreketi area and the department is re-examining the use of land for growing rice in areas under the irrigation scheme in Navua.”
Speakers from the Lands Department, Town and Country Planning and Land and Water Resources were part of the Rice Stakeholders’ Workshop in Navua today.
Farmers at the stakeholders workshop