AN initiative by the Ministry of Agriculture to revive the rice industry has taken a new step with farmers at Navua showing interest in the revamping work.
Expressing his delight, Minister for Primary Industries Joketani Cokanasiga said that the importance of a local rice industry has been noticed again after the latest inflation in food prices.
Mr Cokanasiga who visited the Navua flats last week, said that Navua's reputation as a top rice growing district could be proven as rice has been earmarked to be revitalised in some of the flatlands at Navua.
Speaking to officials at Naitonitoni, Mr Cokanasiga said that some State freehold leases around Tokotoko in Navua have been earmarked as they were suitable for rice production.
"Rice is an important program for the Government and the 254 acres at Tokotoko have been identified as the best place to grow rice," the minister said.
"It is good to see that some farmers have been getting technical advice from ministry officials and land is being prepared on some farms."
Mr Cokanasiga added that the decision to revitalise the rice industry was the result of the latest Food and Agriculture Organisation summit held in Rome that has mooted for the vigorous pursue of cultivation of commodities that can be grown locally to counter the increasing food costs and shortages.
The land around Tokotoko is waterlogged most of the time and was the main rice growing locality in Navua. However, dismal cost of local rice and cheap imports killed interest in the industry and led to its downfall.
Senior agricultural officer at Navua, Sugrim Chand, said extension officers have been going out of their way to help interested farmers with technical advice and seeds. "A tractor has been making the rounds for farmers who want their land ploughed and farmers have been contributing through the use of their bullocks," said Mr Chand.
He added that irrigation structures already in place have been very helpful in the flooding of plots making it easier to plough the land.
Nonetheless, Mr Chand said that most of the land have been idle for a long time.
"Land has been idle since the rice growing days of the 80s and farmers who have been living on the land are very keen on getting back to rice cultivation and take advantage of the high price of rice."
Rice is cultivated mostly in Dreketi in Macuata and Nasarawaqa in Bua, Vanua Levu with most efforts of the ministry are concentrated in those areas.
About 800 tonnes of local rice were produced in 2007 from those areas and an estimated 1000 tonnes is expected this year.
Rewa Rice buys all the locally produced rice at $643 a ton, which is an added incentive for farmers to cultivate more rice.
At present, the Government is importing 32,000 metric tonnes of rice annually at a value of $20million.
