A Sigatoka farmer is appealing for help after his three-acre pawpaw farm was set on fire last Saturday, leaving him worried about how he will support his young family and recover from the losses.
Mohit Kumar says he suffered losses estimated at between $5,000 and $6,000 following the fire.
He says he has been in the farming business for 30 years, and this is the first time he has experienced an incident like this.
Insert: Kumar on his source of income 9th Nov
Speaking to fijivillage News, Kumar says he was alerted about the fire by a neighbour, but by the time he reached the farm, it was too late to control the blaze.
Kumar, who is renting the land, says he is particularly worried about supporting his young children, who are attending school.
He claims that a group of boys have been drinking alcohol on his farm for the past two to three years and believes they may have started the fire while intoxicated.
Kumar says he is not blaming anyone directly, but found beer bottles and cans scattered around the farm after the fire.
He says the issue of people drinking on farms has been ongoing and had been reported previously.
Kumar is calling on Police to conduct regular patrols along Valley Road and surrounding farms, saying people often gather there to drink alcohol.
He is also appealing to the Government for assistance through subsidised seedlings or other support to help him re-establish his farm.
Kumar says rebuilding his livelihood will be particularly difficult amid the El Niño conditions.
Questions have been sent to Police.
