FARMERS are aware to some degree of what climate change is but they need more education on the issue, says Environment Ministry permanent secretary Joshua Wycliffe.
Speaking to this newspaper after a forum for extractive industry stakeholders in Lautoka last week, he said his ministry was working to address climate change-related issues and also increase education and awareness to farmers.
“They are beginning to understand what climate change is, I wouldn’t say they have a complete understanding but the ministry is doing a lot of exercises to raise awareness,” Mr Wycliffe said.
“Every community meeting, every talanoa session, we are bringing it up and we are saying why and how this is being addressed and why climate change and how this is affecting riverbank erosion. We are also educating them on how they should protect the riverbanks.”
When quizzed about whether farmers included climate change risks in their farm planting plans, Mr Wycliffe said there was some understanding but more needed to be done.
“They should give enough space to stabilise the riverbanks and we will continue to do that by raising these issues with them.”
