It is prohibited to sell young green Yaqona says Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

Bainimarama was responding to a concern raised at a talanoa session in Tukavesi last week, where Yaqona plants, as young as eight months old are being stolen from the farms.

Yaqona farmers claim that the theft of their produce started with the 5 year old plants, then the three year old ones and then with the one year and now the eight month old ones.

They say the farms are located far from their homes and the theft has been out of control for about three years now.

Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho says Yaqona theft is increasing and police are doing their utmost to ensure those who are stealing from the farms are caught.

Qiliho says there is only a certain number of officers stationed in Tukavesi who cover a large area of the province and they cannot be in all areas at once.

He adds, in this regard, police will rely on information that is provided to them by the farmers and the community.