Fiji Sun

Hand-held tractors a big boost for Savusavu farmers

- SHRATIKA NAIDU Feedback: shratikan@fijisun.com.fj

Clusters of rice and vegetable farmers of Savusavu received a hand-held tractor each from the Ministry of Agricultur­e to assist in farm cultivatio­n and production.

While handing over the machine to four clusters of farmers on Tuesday, Minister for Agricultur­e Mahendra Reddy, said they were working very hard to assist small scale farmers who could not invest in mechanisat­ion on their own.

Mechanisat­ion in Fiji

He said they understood mechanisat­ion in Fiji would take a bit more time because there was a large number of farmers who were small scale farmers.

“This is why the ministry and Government have come forward in terms of supporting you,” Mr Reddy told the 40 farmers.

“Thanks to the Government of Indonesia’s financial assistance, we were able to buy some machines to assist small scale farmers in Fiji.” He said the machine was given in Wainikoro, Seaqaqa, Tabia, Dreketi, Labasa and in Savusavu.

He said large scale farmers were able to create surplus to invest in machinery to mechanise farms.

“To assist small scale farmers, we formed clusters and then gave machines.

“Mechanisat­ion takes time and is done progressiv­ely because we are a small country, resources are limited, and have more small scale farmers.

“Our expectatio­n after this handover is that with machine assistance, it will result in the improvemen­t of farmer’s farm production.

“It will motivate you by giving you farm power,” he said at the Ministry of Agricultur­e office in Savusavu.

The names of the four clusters are Guanavou Farmers Youth Group, Belego Roadside Vegetable Farmers Group, Banuve Vegetable Farmers Group and Nabua Rice Farmers Group.

 ?? Photo: Shratika Naidu ?? Minister for Agricultur­e Mahendra Reddy (middle) with the recipients during the handing over of the power tiller at the Ministry of Agricultur­e office in Savusavu on August 4, 2020.
Photo: Shratika Naidu Minister for Agricultur­e Mahendra Reddy (middle) with the recipients during the handing over of the power tiller at the Ministry of Agricultur­e office in Savusavu on August 4, 2020.

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