The prolonged dry spell has turned agricultural land in Sigatoka into what looks like a desert, leaving farmers struggling to grow vegetables, feed their animals and find enough water for their daily needs.
Nabitu, Sigatoka Advisory Councillor Abhay Sharma says the situation in Sigatoka has become very difficult, with the water level in the Sigatoka River dropping so low that trucks can now cross areas where people never imagined they would be able to.
The Advisory Councillor says the dry spell has also affected water sources in the area, with boreholes in Kulukulu drying up and people who previously relied on them facing difficulties.
Sharma says he has a vegetable farm but is now struggling to get vegetables to eat, while the lack of grass and other feed has left him with little to give his animals.
He says some people have started selling their animals because they can no longer afford to keep them under the current conditions.
Sharma says his household has been receiving water through the irrigation supply, but other families have had to now rely on the river.
He also says they are digging near the riverbank to access water and cutting whatever grass they can find to feed their animals.
Sharma says he has started farming again in recent days, but the high cost of fuel has made the work even more difficult.
He says water shortage is also creating additional challenges for families preparing for Diwali.
Sharma says his family will have to pump water from the river using an engine to clean their home for the festival.
He says women in several places are returning to practices that were common in the past, carrying water on their heads and going to the river to wash clothes.
He says the water shortage was raised during a council meeting last week, but believes little can be done until rain arrives.
