Farmers in Gau, Lomaiviti, are calling on the Minister of Agriculture and the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji to urgently find a solution to the ongoing destruction of their pandanus (voivoi) plants by insects.
The infestation has impacted their financial income, forcing them to replant repeatedly with little success.
Asilika Sinukula, a farmer who moved to Gau with her husband in 2020, told fijivillage News during the Women in Agriculture Symposium that the issue has persisted for the past four years, leaving many women and their families struggling to earn a living.
She says women in the maritime islands rely on pandanus leaves to weave mats, which they sell to support their families.
Sinukula says it has been four years now, but they are still replanting and living with little hope.
Farmers are urging authorities to investigate the root cause of the infestation and provide immediate assistance to protect their livelihoods.
They are also calling for sustainable solutions to prevent further losses and ensure the survival of pandanus plants, which are crucial for traditional weaving and the economic stability of the community.
fijivillage News has sent questions to the Ministry of Agriculture. They are yet to respond.
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