Plant more fruits and vegetables to counter the increase in food prices – PM

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is calling on Fijians to make use of any square meter of land around their house and plant fruits and vegetables to counter the increase in food prices following the increase in VAT to 15 percent.

He says he has heard of people complaining about the cost of living and he believes that some of these burdens could be cushioned if food gardens were encouraged.

Rabuka says we all know of the hardships we are facing at this moment.

He says those things we do not have control of because most of the things we are angry about, that are expensive, are brought from overseas.

The Prime Minister says eat traditional staple food and avoid processed food that is more expensive because of the increase in VAT, avoid unnecessary travel, avoid addictive expensive 'play things' like toys and video games for children, avoid 'excesses' in everything - yaqona, tavako or cigarette, alcohol, 'kalavata' and trendy fashion wear - buy 'smart and comfort' clothing for cold spell.

He adds buy 'needs' and not 'wants' and 'never nice to haves'.