The Agriculture Ministry is closely monitoring every expenditure programme assisting farmers in rural and outer islands.

Minister responsible, Dr Mahendra Reddy revealed they’re now profiling all the assistance to avoid any scam.

The Minister was responding to Opposition MP Niko Nawaikula on measures that are in place to ensure such programmes are carried out in a transparent manner.

“It’s been cited by the auditor general of scams by your vey staff involved in this rural and outer island assistance and you would agree with me so what guarantee or what measures can you guarantee this house that it will not happen again.”

Dr Reddy says they keep track of the impact of each initiative.

“For example a crop farmer – what was the area under crop, what was the output that particular time before the assessments were given and we want to see what the output is now and what the area under crop is now. Same thing applies to livestock. What was the number of the livestock before. What is the number of livestock now and what is the farmer household income.”

The Minister adds one of their major focuses is to improve the livelihood of Fijians in rural communities.