Reddy clarifies assistance program

MINISTER for Agriculture Dr Mahendra Reddy was quizzed about the availability of copra markets during a talanoa session in the Northern Division yesterday.

Savusavu farmer Karl Smith said copra growers were urged to produce more but questioned the move because they were experiencing marketing challenges.

“We plant more crops and we have been encouraged to expand farming activities but where’s the market?” Mr Smith asked.

“We didn’t receive the financial assistance that we were informed of and now we hear that the $20 (state’s $20/new plant assistance program) will be taken away.”

In response, Dr Reddy clarified said the ministry would not remove the $20 replanting program assistance. “We will not take it away but let’s treat copra farming as a business, as an economic organisation and not as a social welfare department,” he said.