This week, Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Honourable Vatimi Rayalu will be handing out tractors and diggers to farmer’s cooperatives that had applied for the assistance under the Farm Mechanisation Program.

Yesterday, Hon. Rayalu handed over a digger to the Halaiwalu Investment Cooperative in Korociriciri, Namata which is headed by Roko Tui Namata, Ratu Paula Halaiwalu.

During the handover, Hon. Rayalu reminded members that the Coalition Government hopes to revive the ancient traditions of ‘solesolevaki’ or the practice of working together for the collective benefit or “the greater good”.

“This is a great opportunity for communities and villages to work hand in hand so that more is achieved towards better livelihoods. Whether it be farming or village projects, government hopes that more people will work in collaboration and fully utilise the assistance given to you,” said Hon. Rayalu.

“Gone are the days for manual labour and with the various available technologies, I am certain that agricultural production will certainly increase especially through the use of machines,” he added.

The Halaiwalu Investment Cooperative was established in 2012 and consists of 12 members who have been extensively farming root crops and ginger.

The cluster members have been utilizing Mataqali land and recently applied to lease around 24 acres of land in Korociriciri.

Roko Tui Namata, Ratu Paula Halaiwalu thanked government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways for the timely assistance and reaffirmed their commitment to increasing their agricultural production.

“We had been hiring private contractors for land clearing and land preparation works and this of course came with timelines and high costs. This new digger will enable us to work diligently with regards to land preparation works and maximising our crop production,” said Ratu Halaiwalu.

The Halaiwalu Investment Cooperative hope to quickly expand their farm and increase their production in dalo, cassava, kumala and assorted vegetables.

Tomorrow, Hon. Rayalu will be handing out a tractor to St. Vincent College in Natovi.

-ENDS-

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