Hand-held tractors a big boost for Savusavu farmers
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.