Agriculture Ministry estimate cost of damage to crops in Doi village around $15,097

The Ministry of Agriculture has estimated a total cost of damage to crops in Doi Village in Ono-I-Lau to be around $15,097.

This has been confirmed by Senior Agriculture Officer, Nimilote Waqabaca who is currently in Ono-I-Lau assessing the damages caused by Tropical Cyclone Gita.

Waqabaca confirms that the farms in the village which belong to 28 farmers sustained severe damages.

With this urgency, the Ministry of Agriculture has given cabbage, eggplant and tomato seedlings worth $25,000 to the farmers and Doi Village School to help them rebuild their farms.

Our reporter on the ground, Rusiate Baleilevuka has also confirmed that out of the 94 houses in the village, six houses were partially damaged while one was completely damaged by Cyclone Gita.

The government has also assisted the villagers with food rations that will last them for at least three months.

Meanwhile, Waqabaca says that less damage occurred on the island compared to Cyclone Ula in 2016.

The team continue their assessment today.