PM urges farmers to do more on rice

With Fiji’s current import of rice sitting at $51 to $60 million annually, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is urging farmers to take advantage of the revised price for the grades of rice paddies.

Rabuka had announced that the revised price for grade 1 has increased from $850 to $1,000 per tonne, whereas grade 2 has increased from $750 to $800.

While speaking to the media during his tour in the North, Rabuka says this initiative should not only be taken advantage of by farmers involved in rice.

He says we should spread the rice acreage and the participation of farmers.

Rabuka says there are a lot of clear patches when passing Nabouwalu, which are perfect for rice cultivation.

He says rice can be harvested three times before one harvest of sugarcane.