Agriculture Response Package for COVID-19 will be implemented to ensure access to food is not affected - Reddy

Minister for Agriculture Dr. Mahendra Reddy says an Agriculture Response Package for COVID-19 will be implemented to ensure access to adequate food of acceptable quality and nutritional value is not affected.

The initiative will include the strengthening of the Ministry’s seed distribution system, whereby free seeds for short-term crops will be distributed at no cost to the farmers.

These seeds and planting materials will be distributed via all Agricultural Extension Offices from the 30th of this month and to access this assistance, applicants need only fill an Agriculture COVID Response form available at all Ministry of Agriculture offices nationwide.

Dr. Reddy says the Ministry will organize seeds and planting materials before they are delivered to distribution venues and the distribution process will happen simultaneously at all venues in the Western, Central, Northern, and Eastern Divisions over a period of six weeks.

He says they will scale up their Home Gardening Program whereby over the next three months, they will aim to reach all households in small towns around Fiji and in large municipalities, they will try to target at least 30 percent of the households.

Dr. Reddy says this will mean that they will increase the number of distribution venues at large towns and cities together with the number of packages from the previous 50 packages per venue to 150 packages per venue.

He says in addition, their new Farm Support Package will aim to boost production of short-term crops by providing seeds and planting materials to farmers around Fiji.

Dr. Reddy says specifically, the distribution will be limited to quarter acre per crop whereby every farmer will be assisted with one short-term crop.

The targeted vegetables and crops are Taro, Cassava, Rice, Kumala, Duruka, Eggplant, Chillies, Okra, Tomatoes, Maize, Bitter Gourd, Pidgeon Pea, and Cowpea.

The Agriculture Minister says COVID-19 is a reminder of the need to be food secure.

Minister Reddy also made a special call to the tourism sector and chefs, in particular, to use local produce in light of COVID-19 to promote locally grown fruits and vegetables.

He says it’s time to put our local dishes which are prepared using local produce on the menu and this will reduce our reliance on imported foods.