“New market opportunities are now available for farmers of Bucalevu Village which will see our income generation receive a great boost, all thanks to our new farm access road.”

These were the sentiments shared by Turaga-ni-koro of Bucalevu Village in Ra Mr. Epeli Sasau following the commissioning of the Navola Nabediva Farm Road early this week.

Mr. Sasau praised the Ministry of Agriculture for upgrading 1 kilometre and constructing another 1 kilometre of farm access road for the farmers of Bucalevu as the expansion of farms inland was hindered by a lack of access.

“The Vanua o Namatagai is very happy to receive this new farm road. To experience farming over these years and to only be able to take horses up to our farm to transport our produce back to the village was not easy, the impact that this farm road will bring to the people of Bucalevu cannot be measured,” said Mr. Sasau.

With 16 farmhouses situated within the Navola Nabediva farm boundary and approximate 50 farmers who farm there, all forms of travel to and from the farm have been made easy with this farm road.

“This land here is very fertile but reaching it has always been a problem for us, with this road, most of our hardships regarding our farm development will be possible. It will certainly increase our revenue and income generation for all who farm up here, only 1km was accessible before but now we can bring the market right to our doorstep.

Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment Hon. Dr. Mahendra Reddy while commissioning the farm road said that ensuring farm access was critical in order for iTaukei farming communities to undertake meaningful commercial agriculture.

“Access to the farm is critical to complete the entire value-chain, supply-chain from the farm, to the house to the market. Exporters don’t want to come, as there is no farm road and this further discourages farmers because they don’t have a good market,” said Hon. Reddy.

“This farm road is not only something for you to access your farm and from the farm to the house but is also a link and opens you up to a new market for your produce and therefore incentivizes you to expand into commercial agriculture. We’re very happy that this area is on the road towards commercial agriculture.

-Ends-

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