The government spends around $50 million annually on the importation of rice.
And this huge spending could be a thing of the past with a concerted effort towards local rice production.
The United Nations Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) will be working with Fijian farmers on how to boost local rice production and avoid the current reliance on imported rice.
Minister for Agriculture Inia Seruiratu says this assistance has been a long time coming.
“We welcome the assistance very much in fact it was part of our submission to the FAO years back and we’re helpful that finally the funding has arrived and we look forward to the arrival of the expertise as well.”
Seruiratu adds this assistance will also be critical for the development and sustainability of the local rice industry.
