April 12, 2021
Picture: Fiji Rice Ltd Chairman, Mr Raj Sharma.
Fiji
Rice Limited has fully utilized the $150k set aside for the Rice Rehabilitation
Program for farmers in the Northern Division following the devastation caused
by TC Yasa.
Fiji
Rice Chairman, Mr Raj Sharma said the money paid for land preparation.
“I’m quite
pleased to say the maximum amount of money given has been fully used. Which
means 2,000 acres of land has been prepared.
“An
additional 1,000 acres of land has also been prepared, I’m told and I must
thank the Hon. Minister for Agriculture and the Attorney General. This was
decided over the phone in five minutes, thank you very much Minister,” he said.
Mr
Sharma said that was the level of commitment that Government and Fiji Rice
Limited had for farmers.
He
thanked Government for assisting Fiji Rice invest in its mills, which now had a
capacity to produce ten tonnes of rice daily, however, the company was only
utilizing 25per cent of its total capacity at the moment.
He
reiterated the message by Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment,
the Hon. Dr Mahendra Reddy where he urged farmers to grow rice for food
security and reduce the high import bill of $40m spent annually, while
officiating at the Rice Field Day at Assistant Minister, Hon. Viam Pillay’s
farm in Moto, Ba last week.
“If
all the farmers in Ba; 3,900 farmers plant rice in 100 days you will get $1.56m
net profit. This is the level of commitment we can do for you. You just have to
spare one acre of land to plant rice.
“Today,
is an example of ‘We Rice Up’ meaning, let us plant rice. Please plant for
yourself and plant to feed the country,” he said.
Minister
Reddy said Fiji Rice paid the highest price to farmers for their rice.
He
said the company was an important stakeholder for the Ministry as it milled all
of Fiji’s rice that came from the formal sector.
He
also acknowledged the strides made by Mr Sharma in assisting sugarcane farmers
diversify into rice farming as well in his capacity as CEO of the Sugarcane
Growers Fund.
In
addition, the Minister said it was also important that farmers were aware that
Mr Sharma was also Chairman of Food Processors, in case they needed to sell
their agriculture produce to the company.
-ENDS-