.gif)
Farmers in Fiji’s central decision will soon be able to hire farm machinery from Government to cultivate their land.
The purchase of these machines should help maximise production in State Agricultural land in the division, which include the provinces of Naitasiri, Rewa and Tailevu.
Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Netani Sukanaivalu said this will also assist the 19 indigenous landowning units in the area, that have outstanding arrears on the payment of loan for the purchase of freehold land under the Government Buy Back Scheme, to maximize land utilization for increased production.
The Cabinet this week gave the green light for the purchase of machinery worth $802,800 to be sourced from within the existing 2009 Budget.
Under this new initiative, villagers and farmers will pay $26 per hour for the use of the farm machineries to prepare their land for cultivation.
Sukanaivalu said there are currently 532 registered agricultural leases in 3472.5 acres of arable State land in the central division.
“The infrastructure in all these areas has deteriorated immensely, leading to poor cultivation on the farms,” he said.
“The machinery assistance will also be extended to other farmers living near these villages.”
A joint taskforce - to involve the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Indigenous and Multi-Ethnic Affairs - will pursue the purchase of machineries, as well as ensure the landowning units meet their loan repayment on time.
