TREAT FARMING AS BUSINESS, REDDY SAYS GIVING EQUIPMENT.

With the provision of power tiller machines from the Ministry of Agriculture, more than 500 rice farmers in Vanua Levu will now be able to produce more rice.

Over a period of three days, Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment Mahendra Reddy handed over 12 machines to 12 different clusters.

These are: ■Naqara■iqo●i rice farmers Group One, ■Naqara■iqo●i rice farmers Group Two,

■Laqere Rice Farmers Association, ■Vu■ivau rice farmers group in Bua, ■Tausa rice farmers group,

■ Korokadi rice farmers group, ■Baka●e rice farmers group, ■Vu■iya●a●a/Vu■icuicui rice farmers group, ■Wavuwavu rice farmers group, ■Natabe rice farmers group, ■Laga●aga rice farmers group

■a■d Wailevu rice farmers group.

The machine valued at around $8,000 can be used for any land preparation.

Laqere Rice Farmers Association president Ram Khewal said there were 55 rice farmers in this association who struggled over the past 20 years. “With the help of the machine, the farmers will be able to harvest more than 90 tonnes of rice this year compared to last year.”

Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and

Environment Mahendra Reddy told farmers to manage farming as a business.

“There is a massive movement in agriculture at this time and we are motivating farmers to do their part,” Mr Reddy said.

“We will provide you with market, technical support and we will buy your rice.”

Mr Reddy urged farmers to diversify from monocropping to fruits such as watermelon, pineapple, pulses, turmeric, dalo, daruka and chillie.

The Agricultural Marketing Authority chief executive officer, Alvin Sharma, was also present and said they would assist.