Farmers long for access road
NAMOSI farmers are pleading for farm access roads.
This long-time need of farmers in Navunikabi and Wainimakutu was reiterated during a talanoa session with the Minister of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Sakiasi Ditoka during his visit last Thursday.
Dalo and yaqona farming are the main sources of income for the villagers, however, one of the biggest hardships they go through is when they have to carry their harvest from the farm to the village to await buyers.
Village headman Vereniki Naqiolevu said they had to either walk or go on horseback for two to three hours from their farms in Wainivukulevu and Navuniyawa while carrying their produce.
“There’s a decline in productivity because of the issue,” Mr Naqiolevu said.
“Our potential harvest could be more than one tonne of dalo when buyers come; however, due to circumstances, we can just return home with two bags of dalo.”
In response, Commissioner Josefa Seniwaitui Navuku proposed, with the consent of the villagers, that they construct an access road in Nakavika that is nearest to their farm. However, he reaffirmed to farmers that this will be something that they will further look into in terms of financial allocation and approval. Farmers are ecstatic about the proposal, as it will be easier for buyers to load produce by the roadside. The Wainimakutu Farmers Group echoed the same sentiments, pleading for access roads near their farm in Wainibua.
Farmer Ilaitia Mice said they either walked for about 30 minutes or hired horses for $20 to carry their harvest to the village.
Mr Ditoka commended the Wainimakutu Farmers Group, as they are one of the biggest dalo suppliers from Namosi.
He has reassured them that he will further look into the said issue.