Picture: Leader of Korovou Cluster receives the offer letter from Hon. Dr Mahendra Reddy.

The Ministry of Agriculture has provided 20,000 dalo suckers for two villages on Koro Island as part of efforts to boost the production of the commodity on the island and its food security objective.

The two villages of Nasau and Vatulele will each receive 10,000 dalo suckers each which will be distributed amongst members of their respective farming groups, namely Veiniu Cluster in Vatulele Village and Korovou Cluster in Nasau Village.

Veiniu Cluster President Mr. Rusiate Lalanavanua said the Vanua o Bucabuca was fortunate to be chosen to receive the dalo planting material as it was a tough ask for their village farmers to secure planting material on the island.

Mr. Lalanavanua said the Ministry’s intervention through the provision of the planting material was a welcoming gesture as it signified the Ministry’s stance on developing the sector regardless of their remoteness and rural dwelling.

“Thank you for the planting materials that we have received, we saw that the suckers were delivered, we are so grateful because access to planting materials here on the island is very difficult.”

“Thank you for bringing this to the Vanua o Bucabuca. We were just discussing the dalo suckers and we received the notice that another set of dalo suckers would be delivered later, we are ready to meet the demands of the Ministry of Agriculture and to re-supply the same amount back to the Ministry when the time comes so that like us, other deserving farmers out there can also be assisted by Government,” said Mr. Lalanavanua.

As for Korovou Cluster President Mr. Amenatave Kaitani, the assistance couldn’t have come at a more opportune time as their farming cluster had set social development plans for school dropouts in Nasau Village.

“The cluster is indebted to the Ministry for this assistance because we had set plans to assist our young who are school dropouts and our youth to support in their social development like the building of their houses for them and to provide for their livelihood here in the village. This assistance is a great boost for our Korovou farmers group,” said Mr. Kaitani.

Meanwhile, in addressing farmers on the island, Minister for Agriculture Hon. Dr. Mahendra Reddy said this support package should provide an impetus for their gradual move towards commercial agriculture.

“We’ve brought some support packages to assist you with your agriculture venture. The dalo suckers are for commercial agriculture that you are engaged in. Koro Island is a significant producer of dalo that we not only consume in Viti Levu but also export.

“You’ve done well over these past 5 years after the devastation of Winston and we look forward to working and assisting you, and we want Koro to be a model island in terms of agriculture production,” said Minister Reddy.

-Ends-

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