The dry spell currently being experienced in the Western Division is a major concern for Fiji Pine Group.

Company executive chairman Faiz Khan says they can only hope and pray for rain.

“It is a significant cause of concern at the moment. We are not able to go ahead with our planting program and if we do plant in this drought then all the seedlings we plant will die in a week so it’s no use. Our nurseries are filled with seedlings waiting to go into the soil but the soil is not ready for that and therefore we need rain.”

This means the Fiji Pine Group, like last year, will not be able to meet its planting targets.