MINISTER MAHENDRA REDDY'S PRESS STATEMENT

Ministry of Environment
 
Good morning.
We have a few important updates for the nation, particularly on our TC Cody response and the lingering impacts of the eruption in Tonga.
1.         There are two important ways we assess air quality in the aftermath of a volcanic eruption. One is to determine air quality in the upper troposphere, which affects rain falling on Fiji. And the other is to measure ground-level air quality, which affects the air we breathe.
 
2.         Following the eruption, the Ministry of Environment used satellite imagery and data to confirm an increase in Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) concentrations over Fiji in the upper troposphere creating slightly acidic rain. We released guidance to the public to avoid going out in the rain and to cover household water sources to avoid contamination.
 
3.         Ground level Sulphur Dioxide measurements in Nadi and along the greater Suva - Lami fell within WHO standards, meaning the air has remained safe to breathe. To undertake similar tests, a team of Environment Officers will be deployed to the Lau Group to carry out air quality monitoring this week.
 
4.         We recorded slightly acidic rainfall on January 17 and 18 (Monday and Tuesday) with pH levels ranging from 4.08 to 4.99. The acidity of rainfall varies with the sulphur dioxide concentrations and other gases like Nitrous Oxide (NOx) and wind movement in the upper troposphere.
 
5.         Our Ministry has been in touch with experts who have advised that if the pH of rainwater decreases slightly then nature has its way to counteract it. Our marine and terrestrial system have a carbonate/bicarbonate equilibrium system that will resist any slight changes in rainwater pH, neutralizing the acid and decreasing the impacts of acid rain on our environment.
 
6.         In addition to the advice published this week, members of the public should thoroughly wash any agricultural produce before consuming it directly. Members of the public must also follow advisories issued by the Water Authority of Fiji with regards to the suitability of drinking water (from the tap and other sources).
 
7.         It's too early to say much about the impact of this eruption on marine life, but generally, the volcanic ash and pumice can have an impact on marine life and ecosystems.  For example, high amounts of pumice stones can block the sunlight from reaching the planktons and reduce oxygen levels in the water. We are testing to determine any impact on marine ecosystems.
 
Ministry of Agriculture Response to TC Cody.
In response to the government's effort to TC Cody rehabilitation to the Fijian agriculture sector -  the Acting Prime Minister the weekend announced an assistance package that includes cash for affected farming households.
There were four different types of assistance announced for the targeted affected farmers.
o          The first was cash assistance of $250 for land preparation, cultivation, and procuring planting materials.
o          The second focused on the Bilateral Quarantine Arrangement (BQA) farms that produce for the export market.
o          The third was the expansion of our existing farm support seed packages for farmers who planted in large areas; and
o          The fourth is our ongoing Grow From Home gardening programme that provides garden seed packs for those living in the peri-urban and urban areas who wished to grow their vegetables in their back yard.
 
$250 Cash Assistance for Affected Farmers
The $250 cash assistance will cover land preparation, cultivation and procurement of planting materials. For example, an affected farmer could quickly hire a tractor, bullock, or horse or pay fuel for his tractor to begin the farm work.
This assistance will target all Farming households who:
Identify farming  /agriculture as their main source of income
Were adversely affected by TC Cody
Sustained up to 30 % crop damage or 10% livestock damage
 
Applications are to be made online through a link shared on the Government FB page, Ministry of Agriculture FB page or you can visit any nearest Agriculture Station.

Agriculture officers would be verifying the information provided by the farmers in their applications to ensure the data matched what was on the ground.

If farmers are not able to access the online application, then they can go to their nearest Agriculture office where someone will assist them to enter their details.
Online applications are open now and will close on January 26, next week Wednesday.

The Ministry hopes to begin payouts via MPAISA and MyCash on February 4th.
 
TC Cody Rehab Package for BQA farmers
250 Bilateral Quarantine Arrangement (BQA) Fijian farms will each receive a 50kg bag of fertilizer and ten trays of seedlings of crops they grow for exports, as TC Cody Rehabilitation Package. Total package to each BQA farmer will be worth $176 [Fertilizer at $86 + 10 trays seedlings at $96]

Farm Support Seed packages for 20,000 farmers
About 20,000 farmers are targeted to receive seed packages to assist in their production and help get them back on their feet as quickly as possible.
These seed packages are large volume seeds and targeted for farmers who plant vegetables at a larger quantity such as okra, eggplant or cabbages.

Farmers need to go to their nearest Agriculture office to pick up these seeds.
This assistance will be rolled out this week.

Home garden seed packages to 20,000 households

The fourth response package is our Grow From Home gardening programme which targets households in urban and peri-urban areas.

The Ministry is targeting 20,000 households to receive Home Gardening seed packages. Each seed pack will have five different seeds. This initiative is meant for households to continue or start their gardening at home to assist in supplying fresh vegetables for home use.

The seed packs can be picked up from your nearest Agriculture office. However, soon we will be announcing places where we will have a table set up with our officers who will be giving out these seed packs. We are looking at densely populated residential areas like Votualevu, Korovuto, and Nadovi.

We will publish the list of seed collection points in the Fiji Sun this Saturday and as well as our Facebook page.

I urge you all to come and collect your seed packs when you see our officers. These packs are free."

In total, this TC Cody Agriculture Rehabilitation Package will cost government $5.84 million. 
 
Ministry of Waterways
 
1.         Much of the flooding we saw during TC Cody was because the banks of our rivers broke under the strain of flooding. And the Ministry of Waterways is continuing its work to protect communities from climate-driven storms that produce intense rain and floodwaters.
2.         Some of our major works around Fiji to mitigate flooding are as follows:
a.         Rewa River: We have 18 dredging companies undertaking dredging works in this river to ensure we maintain the discharge capacity and avoid any major flooding. We are also in talks with another dredging company to dredge the Waidamu River. Works had commenced but got stalled due to the pandemic.
b.         Navua River: There are dredging works upstream which allowed fast flow out of water during the past heavy rain. But we have are in talks to a company to dredge the downstream portion of this river later this year.
c.         Sigatoka River: The river mouth and 1.5km from it has been successfully dredged in 2019. We wish to move upstream this year. The work carried until now prevented any flooding in the town.
d.         Nadi River: The town has been successfully protected from any major flooding as a result of the construction of 5 retention dams upstream and dredging of Nawaka and Nadi River.
e.         Ba River: Last year, we undertook river widening of 1 km near Votua village. This has allowed water to recede very quickly thus not causing any major damage to the town and nearby communities. The next phase is the dredge the river mouth and 20 km upstream from the river mouth. This work will commence this Friday. We are also looking at dredging the E Levuka creek and possible re alignment for fast discharge.
f.          Tavua River: 1 km from the river mouth has been cleared while the remaining 12 km up till the Tavua bridge will be cleared this year.
g.         Nakauvadra River: The major dredging works undertaken in this river in 2020 has protected the town from any flooding since then. We are looking at removing any slit from this river this year.
h.         Vanua Levu and Labasa River: We will be undertaking major dredging works on major rivers in Vanua Levu over the next 24 months starting with small equipment's first and with a dredger from January next year.

Thank you.