INMATES at the Labasa Prisons and Corrections Centre will again embark on a rice farming project this year as part of the Yellow Ribbon Project.
Centre supervisor northern Assistant Superintendent of Prisons (ASP) Penisoni Tuapati said a five-acre farm would be used for the project during the first quarter.
"The recent cyclone and wet weather conditions have hampered our preparations but we will surely plant rice this quarter so the inmates can start saving extra money in their individual savings account," he said.
"Such a project will also sustain our rice requirement and save us extra money.
"We will also sell the extra to local buyers and 60 per cent of the money will go to the inmates' accounts while 40 per cent goes to the centre."
ASP Tuapati said they expected to produce about seven to eight tonnes of rice this year.
"The inmates attended a rice field-day last year which was organised by the Department of Agriculture and they have acquired the knowledge of planting rice.
"Such ideas will help them continue with rice farming when they are released."