Good news as rice farmers will receive weedicide and fertilizer subsidies to support the growth and productivity of rice industry in Fiji. Chairman of Fiji Rice Limited, Raj Sharma says it is the first time they have been given the subsidy for weedicide and fertilizers. Sharma says the National Development Plan 2025-2029 has two clear messages including reducing import bills from 25 percent to 19 percent and having the subsidy.
The Chairman says no subsidy will be given to farmers who have not fulfilled their obligations regarding the rice planting grant payout in the past season unless justified or grant paid.
He further says each farmer will be allocated $200 per acre of crop planted for the 2025 season.
Sharma adds farmers with land area planted 5 acres or less will have to contribute 20 percent of the cost, farmers with land area between 5 to 20 acres will contribute 33 percent of the cost while farmers with land area more than 20 acre will contribute 50 percent of the cost.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad says when it comes to agriculture, government is doing a lot of work to grow the industry.
Professor Prasad says they have also increased Ministry of Agriculture’s budget and provided additional funding to Ministry of Sugar.
He says they are also providing subsidy to other agricultural sectors.
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