Riya Mala 
[Photo: FILE]
Farmers are facing growing difficulties in maintaining production as prolonged dry conditions linked to El Niño affect their crops and livelihoods.
British American Tobacco Fiji General Manager James Goldring says the company is stepping up efforts to support growers during these challenging conditions.
He says changing weather patterns are raising concerns among farmers who rely on regular rainfall to maintain crop growth, protect their harvests and secure their income.
Goldring says that for many farming communities, the challenge is not only maintaining production during the current dry spell but also recovering from disruptions experienced earlier in the year.
“It’s been a particularly hard and challenging growing period this year. It’s not just El Niño. At the beginning of the year, there were a couple of storms that really affected the early planting, and the cyclones that came through delayed a lot of the planting that we had. The season so far has been very strong and very good, and we are now in this challenging season with El Niño.”
Goldring says the company is aware of the challenges facing farmers and is working to ensure they receive the necessary support to maintain production.
Fiji Hardwood Corporation Limited CEO Semi Dranibaka says the partnership with BAT Fiji is strengthening efforts to protect forests from the impacts of climate change.
BAT says long-term investment in agriculture will be key to protecting farmers’ livelihoods, sustaining production and ensuring the sector can better withstand future climate challenges.
