GOVERNMENT’S Northern Development Program (NDP) has financed projects worth $19 million over the past 10 years.
Most applicants funded are involved in agricultural farming projects in the North.
The NDP manager Waisale Tuidama said they had increased support towards rice and livestock farmers for the purpose of reducing import bills.
“We have funded 50 hand tractors to rice farmers in Dreketi (Macuata) and two rice harvesters as well,” he said.
“So this has helped boost production and we are doing this to help increase our local rice products and reduce the import bills.
“The same is also done for our livestock farmers where we hope to increase production through NDP funding and reduce import bill.”
So far, the new approach to boost local production through NDP funding had been successful, Mr Tuidama said.
He added the situation had attracted a lot of rice and livestock farmers who had applied for their assistance.
Mr Tuidama said Government had funded 2200 projects since the program started in 2008.
“We have funded farming projects like yaqona, cane, dalo, livestock and rice,” he said.
“We have also funded integrated farming projects which is the trend nowadays for many farmers and it’s encouraging to see a lot of people getting involved with small projects that generate income.”
