Some farmers of Nabitu, Sigatoka who have lost nearly all vegetables and crops due to massive flooding in the last few days went an extra mile to transport some of their harvest to Suva Market.
It can be seen in a video that some farmers through the help of a tractor are pulling the trucks loaded with vegetables on the Raiwaqa Bridge which was still submerged in flood waters on Tuesday as the interiors of Sigatoka experienced heavy downpour.
A man on the tractor is heard saying farmers go through a lot of hassle and risks to transport vegetables because they want to ensure everyone has access to vegetables.
Fijivillage spoke to 59-year-old farmer, Abhay Chand Sharma who says there are around 100 farmers in Nabitu and a few hundred more in nearby farming communities and their main concern is regarding the Raiwaqa Bridge which always gets flooded.
He says they face huge challenges in transporting their vegetables.
Sharma says they use the same bridge to access the nearest health centre and are again urging authorities to look at the possibility of constructing a new bridge at higher ground.
Nabitu is situated around 35km from Sigatoka Town and on the east bank of Sigatoka River.
Sharma who has a vegetable farm on his five acre piece of land says he has suffered more than $5,000 worth of damages.
We will be speaking to the Fiji Roads Authority regarding concerns raised by Nabitu farmers.
