Termite baiting will now be conducted throughout the country, where families earning less than $30,000 will be provided with baits to destroy termite nests and ensure their homes are not damaged.
Termite Taskforce Co-Chair and Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, says Lautoka and Nadi remain hotspots, while some cases are being reported in Ba, Tavua, Rakiraki, and Labasa.
She says 140 reports were received from Suva, but only four houses in Nakasi were found to have termites and were treated.
Kiran is encouraging people to report cases, as unless infestations are reported and entered into their database, it will be difficult to identify the locations of termite activity and enable the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji to plan a nationwide baiting programme early next year.
The Assistant Minister says they have been working on baiting a thousand houses in Lautoka as part of a pilot project and adds gadgets that can be attached to walls to detect termite activity are now available.
In an interview with fijivillage News, Kiran says that for anyone earning below $30,000, the government will cover the cost of baiting, including for those living in informal settlements.
Kiran says that the government is already baiting its properties in the Western Division and is encouraging school management teams to consider baiting as well.
When asked where people wishing to purchase termite baits could find them, Kiran says the government has authorised reputable companies to supply termite baits and from this week, these baits will be available in hardware stores, complete with instructions.
She adds that many pest control companies are also offering termite baiting services.
Kiran further says they are also working on amending building codes, as a building cannot be given a completion certificate unless it has all the resistant mechanisms and once it's certified it has to be monitored.
She also confirmed that 775 families have been provided with subsidies worth $3.8 million.
The Assistant Minister says they have been monitoring these families and found that only 5 percent have renovated their homes, while the remainder may be waiting for the baiting process to be completed.
She said they would continue monitoring the remaining 95 percent.
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