Focus for next financial year is increasing production of crops and livestock - Rayalu

Minister for Agriculture Vatimi Rayalu says the increase in the production of crops and livestock to achieve economies of scale for farmers is the focus of the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways in the next financial year.

While responding to the 2024/2025 National Budget, Rayalu says they will see that services are delivered on time and in particular, one of the cases is the results of soil tests.

Rayalu says we already have large-scale production technology companies that are producing vegetables on a large scale, but we need more investors to invest in large-scale production technologies for fruits and vegetables and also for intensive livestock production.

He says the dredging of our main rivers is a bandage solution and what is needed is a national waterways strategy that will outline coastal protection works right up to the tributaries up in the mountains.

The Agriculture Minister says they will be working together with forestry, fisheries and also with the Ministry of Land and iTLTB, to fix the loss of soil from our rivers and streams.

He further says managing the adverse effects of climate change like disease control, soil salinity, flood protection and dredging.

He adds this budget reflects innovation rather than business as usual.