In an effort to increase rice production, the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, in collaboration with Chinese rice experts, yesterday trained 20 rice farmers from Rakiraki on upland rice production techniques.

This training aimed to improve rice farming practices through knowledge transfer on modern techniques, focusing on productivity, sustainability, and food security.

Mr Ma Tengfei, the Assistant Team Leader of the China Aid program said the main purpose of the training was to promote upland rice technology and increase farmer participation.

He said the farmers learned basic upland rice planting practices, covering land preparation, seed selection, growth stages, management, and harvesting.

According to Mr Ma, upland rice technology is suitable for Fiji’s climate and environment, especially during the rainy season as it does not need irrigation.

“Planting upland rice is simple, and requires less investment and less labour intensive, so farmers are more likely to accept and try to grow upland rice,” added Mr Ma.

In the past year, the Chinese Rice team, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, Research and Extension Divisions, established 12 demonstration fields at eight sites, in Savusavu, Dreketi, Navuso Agriculture Technical Institute (NATI), Rakiraki, Fiji National University (FNU), Lelean Memorial School, Koronivia Research Station (KRS) and Navua to promote rice cultivation techniques.

“Our team helped farmers produce 20 tonnes from the eight demonstration sites (1-2 acre land area for each site) of rice, with a 50% higher yield than the local area production, also purifying and rejuvenating rice seeds at KRS and Dreketi Agriculture Station,” said Mr Ma.

The Chinese team conducted rice training for 1,200 farmers, students and teachers from Savusavu, NATI, Lelean Memorial School, FNU and KRS and also provided pest and disease management assistance to 55 farmers from Rakiraki.

“We aim to introduce high-yielding new rice varieties to improve the livelihoods of farmers by helping them grow upland rice and increase their income.”

The training enabled farmers to increase rice planting, collaborate with the Chinese Experts, and become demonstration farmers receiving technical and material support.

Research Officer Rice, Mr Krishneel Chand said this training will enable farmers to improve rice production as they now have a strong understanding of rice management and cultivation practices.

Mr. Chand explained that the farmers have learned land preparation and weed management practices, which involve using specific chemicals for different weeds and applying fertilizers at various stages of rice growth.

Seruvuama Nalago, a 39-year-old farmer and member of Unity Brothers Club from Nativi Village, said he learned a lot from the training and will return to his village and share the knowledge with the other members.

Mr. Nalago thanked the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways for providing two bags of rice seeds to the Unity Brothers Club in 2020 which they grew rice on two acres and yielded a good harvest. However, they faced difficulties controlling weeds and became discouraged from continuing rice production.

“We did not have a proper understanding of controlling weeds at that time, however, from today’s training I have learned a lot and will go back and share the knowledge with the members to encourage them to revive rice production,” he said.

Mr Nalago also looks forward to encouraging the club members to grow rice for home consumption and supply to Fiji Rice Ltd.

Another farmer, Suresh Dev of Mid Road Raiwasa, who has been farming rice for the past two years, said the training has taught him techniques of producing rice from land preparation to planting and management.

He emphasized soil testing as crucial for rice and other crops and plans to take a soil sample to the Rakiraki Agriculture office for analysis at the Koronivia Research Station.

The farmers also received two bags of fertilizer and one bag of rice seeds as support from the Ministry and the Chinese rice experts under the Fiji China Rice Project Phase III.

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