FARMERS of Eddy Daas Farm Rd, off Lakena Irrigation outside Nausori, have raised concerns about the condition of the road leading to their farms.
One of the farmers, Pranil Chand, said the farmers and residents in the area were helpless because of the road condition in the area.
“We have been running around to various authorities for some time now.
We had also written to the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA),” Mr Chand claimed.
“We face difficulties when taking our produce to the market to sell. Luckily, I have a four-wheel-drive, so I sometimes manage. But other farmers have smaller cars which makes it very difficult to them. “Sometimes the vehicles get stuck in the mud and potholes.”
Another farmer, Bijendra Kumar, who has been living in the area since 2001, said the problem had persisted since then.
“Over the years, the conditions have gotten worse,” he claimed.
“It has affected me very badly in terms of my farming income and plus the health of my wife, who is a stroke patient,” Mr Kumar claimed.
Meanwhile, FRA had carried out site inspections and confirmed that the existing road cannot be upgraded because the road was not on FRA road reserve.
“The decision for further development and/or repairs has to go back to the council and the Ministry of Local Government through their representatives and the divisional officers,” FRA said.
“Subject to approval from the Ministry of Local Government, and the provision of additional funding, the FRA will then be able to include this road in our inventory and program it in our future forward works program for proper upgrading.”
