(No.0451)
The Sigatoka Valley farmers whose farms were devastated by the recent floods finally breathed a sigh of relief yesterday after the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) donated 75,000 vegetable seedlings to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The vegetable seedlings were officially handed over by the Trade Representative of Taiwan, Mr Chin to the Minister for Primary Industries, Mr Joketani Cokanasiga yesterday at the TTM Training Centre in Sigatoka.
This donation is part of Ministry's Agro Rehabilitation Programme to provide assistance to all those farmers who have been affected by the recent flooding in Fiji.
Mr Cokanasiga while speaking at the handing over ceremony thanked the TTM representatives and acknowledged the years of continuous assistance provided by TTM to the farmers all over Fiji.
"I am really honoured today with the gesture shown by Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in donating vegetable seedlings for the farmers of the Sigatoka Valley."
"I have been told that the TTM has raised 75,000 seedlings which includes 50,000 seedlings of eggplant and 25,000 seedlings of chillies," Mr Cokanasiga said.
He said the quick action taken by TTM in raising the seedlings and getting it ready for the timely distribution shows that the Mission really cares for the farmers in the salad bowl of Fiji.
Mr Cokanasiga said the donation would assist the farmers to recover from the damages done by the recent flooding.
"We must note that this assistance will enable the farmers to normalize their vegetable production and provide some income which they have lost during and after the floods."
Apart from the donation, a tractor has also being provided to the valley farmers by the MOA as part of their Rehabilitation Programme.
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