SODELPA MP, Inosi Kuridrani has again called on the government to release data based on ethnicity following the Agriculture Census after confirmation by the Minister for Agriculture, Doctor Mahendra Reddy that the census is expected to be completed in 3 weeks.
While giving his ministerial statement in parliament, Dr Mahendra Reddy says 18,247 out of 71,153 households have been covered after conducting one week out of the 3 weeks nationwide 2020 Agriculture Census.
He says the census coverage for week one is slightly lower of what was targeted.
Doctor Reddy says this is due to some issues faced by the team in getting to maritime areas.
He says these issues are being rectified and the overall census is expected to be completed in 3 weeks.
However, Kuridrani claims that the agriculture sector that provides benefits to most of Fiji’s population continues to decline.
Kuridrani says the government is ignoring ethnicity while conducting census.
He says what he is asking for is not being racist as government cannot have tailor-made programs to assist the different ethnic communities if they do not have data based on ethnicity.
While responding to Doctor Reddy’s statement, Leader of National Federation Party, Professor Biman Prasad has challenged the Minister for Agriculture and the government to avail the census data in a transparent, usable and understandable manner.
Prasad has also challenged Doctor Reddy to take out politics while collecting data.
Leader of National Federation Party, Professor Biman Prasad
We are currently trying to speak to Doctor Mahendra Reddy.
