Taveuni farmers still facing dalo shortage

Farmers in Taveuni are still facing a dalo shortage.

Divisional Agriculture Officer Northern John Cox has confirmed that the prolonged dry spell around the country has affected the dalo yield drastically.

Cox said that dalo farming is different from other vegetables and the effect comes after a while when the climate changes.

Cox added that farmers who depend on crop farming as their main source of income will have to look for other means of earning during this festive season.

A 35-year-old dalo farmer of Barutu, Taveuni, Mohammed Nizaam said he is very disheartened by the low production from his farm.

Nizaam said that now he will have to ensure that whatever is left has to be sold to enable him to do school and festive season shopping for his family.

However, he said the good news is that the price of dalo has increased which may compensate for the loss they are facing at present.