Picture: Assistant Minister for Agriculture Hon. Viam Pillay with the farmers of Nalotawa.

In an interesting development from the gracious gesture demonstrated by the people of Tikina o Nalotawa, Ba in donating their freshly harvested crops on Friday (28.05.21) to families under isolation in Ba - yesterday relatives of those from Nalotawa planted their tenth acre of cassava.

The group is part of the Marnitawa farming Cluster in Ba. The 19 members also began planting one acre of duruka each, per farmer.

Spearheading this charge that is beginning to bear fruit is ‘Rise Beyond the Reef’ under its ‘Basa Exchange’ program. 

Co-founder of ‘Rise Beyond the Reef’, Mr Semi Lotawa said seven upper mountain villages from Tikina Nalotawa came together as ‘suppliers’ under this program. 

“This initiative aims to include rural remote communities as actors in addressing food insecurity for those in lockdown or home quarantine. In return, households earn cash at village-gate for their produce.

“Due to the devaluation of crops during the pandemic, many remote communities who rely on their ‘basa’ income have been left cashless during the pandemic. They simply can’t make enough from their crops to justify coming down to the market,” Mr Lotawa said. 

He added the initiative was supported by the Fiji Women’s Fund.

And seen joining the Cluster while they planted yesterday was Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Viam Pillay to show Government’s support for such fantastic initiatives.

Hon. Pillay expressed his appreciation for the communal planting or ‘solesolevaki’ where families came together, united in a worthwhile cause.

The Assistant Minister was moved by the show of unity by the Cluster at a time of hardship the country faced.

While the Central Division continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Marnitawa farming Cluster together with their families in the Tikina o Nalotawa, forge ahead in ensuring food security initiatives continue unhindered. 

There are plans the Cluster have to also move into planting ginger, turmeric and vanilla.

The farming initiatives by the people of Tikina Nalotawa, Ba have also been supported through a successful multi-sectoral approach where the Government agencies in the area worked together to lend technical assistance from their respective fields.

Vina Du Mr Lotawa and ‘Rise Beyond the Reef’, Vina Du Marnitawa Farming Cluster, Vina Du Tikina Nalotawa!

-Ends-

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