$413,000 new rice mill opens for 92 farmers in Nailaga, Ba

A $413,000 new rice mill in Ba will be a relief to farmers in Nailaga which will provide employment and is a key component of the Government's infrastructure in terms of food, security, and livelihoods.

The new mill has been made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, a Chinese rice team, and Fiji Rice Limited.

While opening the mill, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says the new mill represents Fiji Rice Limited’s commitment to the community by bringing the milling service closer to supporting the livelihood of rural farmers on Viti Levu.

He says the mill has the latest machinery enabling it to process 10 tonnes of paddy per day to assist farmers further and, Fiji Rice Limited will provide transportation for the paddy to be picked up free of cost from their farms to the mill.

There are currently 92 farmers engaged in rice farming from the Ba area to Rakiraki and he hopes that with the operations of this new mill, rice production will continue to increase.

Rabuka adds as part of the Fiji Government’s commitment towards increasing rice production and reducing the country’s rice import bill, Fiji Rice Limited is allocated $1.4 million within the allocation under the Public Enterprise Department in the 2024-2025 national budget, which was passed in Parliament last week.

He says under the Ministry of Agriculture, a total of $350,000 is allocated for the rice farming program for extension services with another $200,000 for rice crop research and development. Further, a total of $800,000 has been set aside for the rice irrigation scheme and $60,000 for the rice development program.

Rabuka also commended Fiji Rice Limited and its board for their efforts in turning the industry around and for persuading the government to introduce incentives for rice farmers and assistance with farm needs.

He adds this strengthens our food security as a nation to become self-sufficient in terms of rice and other essentials of life and to reduce our annual import bill

Ba rice farmer Rajesh Kumar Singh, rice farming has become the lifeline of his family.

He says he has been a rice farmer for about 40 years and has never regretted becoming one as it has supported his family’s livelihood.

Singh says all his three children’s education was supported through the income earned from rice farming.

He says they earn good income from rice farming while also providing for their own sustenance.