Rewa Senior Agriculture Officer Mohammed Khan

There is an increase in the demand for rice for local consumption.

To help address the issue, the Agriculture ministry is working to identify areas suitable for rice farming.

Rewa Senior Agriculture Officer Mohammed Khan says they also have training strategies and incentives for farmers who wish to utilize their land for rice farming.

Khan says this will also contribute to the sustainable food security in the country and for commercial use.

“Government has been working had for food security – rice which is consumed at and is the number 1 edible food for most in Fiji because of our eating habit now, we are moving away from root crops and so forth.”

Khan says the Chinese government has also put in place incentives to support local rice farmers.

The ministry has identified 15,000 hectares in the Rewa Delta ideal for rice farming in the Central Division.