Minister working hard to get agriculture assessment

Inia Seruiratu says they are working around the clock to obtain an assessment on flood damage.

The Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, was in Naitasiri yesterday after visiting Wainibuka in Tailevu. Mr Seruiratu said that his team of officials were currently on the ground carrying out damage assessment on farms. “My team has been working around the clock carrying out assessment on farms damaged in this recent weather; most of the farms were damaged in the flood. “What really helped us is the current data we have, we are able to carry out our assessment. Now we are just trying to assess areas we have access to as most roads and bridges were damaged in the floods. “Today I am able to asses areas in Wainibuka and Naitasiri. Once the roads and bridges are fixed then I will go visit other farms affected by this flood. After this than we will try and figure out what step to take next, according to my own assessment, the damage done was not worse compared to Tropical Cyclone Winston,” Mr Seruiratu said.

He said the cost of overall damage on the agriculture would be released once all assessment was done.

Naluwai villager in Naitasiri, Lepani Vakalele said he was happy to see Minister for Agriculture in Vunidawa yesterday. “I am happy to see him coming around to see us farmers in Naitasiri because we were the ones most affected in this recent flood, I was able to share my grievances with him on what actually happened to my dalo and potatoes farm,” he said. Edited by Maraia Vula