Farmers in Taveuni continue to battle yaqona and dalo theft, as villagers say years of hard work can be wiped out overnight, affecting livelihoods and the future of young farmers.
While speaking to fijivillage News, Vuniuto Village headman Etuate Tikomainiusiladi says yaqona plants belonging to students of the Tutu Rural Training Centre were stolen again last week.
He says it was the fourth theft from the same plantation this month.
Tikomainiusiladi says the students grow yaqona to help pay for their education and meet their daily needs.
Insert:(VITI FM) Tikomainiusiladi on yaqona theft
He says those responsible have not yet been identified, but villagers have come together to replace and replant the stolen yaqona to support the students.
The village headman says dalo theft is also becoming a serious issue, with farmers often arriving at their farms to find crops stolen just as they are ready to be harvested.
He says the matter was discussed during a recent village meeting, where they have agreed to help affected young farmers and students by replanting stolen crops and keeping a closer watch on plantations.
Tikomainiusiladi says the repeated thefts are discouraging for farmers and students who spend months caring for their crops, only to lose them before they can benefit from their hard work.
