Government committed to helping farmers
THE Coalition Government is committed to ensuring the needs of dalo farmers, especially in the interior of Namosi, are met.
This was highlighted by Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management Sakiasi Ditoka during the commissioning of the new $12,000 dalo collection centre in Wainimakutu, Namosi last Thursday.
In his address, Mr Ditoka stressed the strong desire from the Government to aid this project with the need to protect the quality of dalo when it is exported to buyers.
With the opening of the new collection centre, this has seen the implementation of a new organisation of land use and sales, now called the Wainimakutu Farmers Co-operative.
Mr Ditoka said he was happy to see the people in Namosi fully utilising the new centre and further adding that this would urge more farmers to use their land and generate income in many households in the nearby villagers.
“It’s a really exciting time for the people of Wainimakutu and we are certainly here to assist them,” Mr Ditoka said.
“There was a request for a road to be built, that will open up to their planting areas, their main crops are dalo and yaqona.
“Even now, they bring in their produce by horse or by foot and they are managing to hit eight tonnes per week, so just imagine if we are able to open up their farms to vehicles.
“By providing road access, I’m sure they can double or even bring in more of what they are able to produce.”
Dalo farmer Ilaitia Mice said farmers would no longer have to brave the unfavourable weather while waiting for their produce to be weighed and sold.
“Sometimes we would have to wait under the hot sun or rain for our produce to be weighed and this would sometimes spoil the condition of the dalo,” Mr Mice said.
“This has been such a huge help to our community and I would like to thank everyone that was part of this project.”