Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry Tomasi Tunabuna says a team from the ministry is on the ground assessing sugarcane farms and other agricultural crops damaged by the recent floods.
Speaking to The Fiji Times in Lautoka on Wednesday, Mr Tunabuna said the assessment process was already in motion and was being carried out within a limited timeframe.
“Our assessments are normally procedural, we normally look at the extent of damage and also to the extend there would be recovery to the damage,” he said.
“For Agriculture and Sugar, we will be assessing mostly on the crop damage, that will include sugar and non-sugar crops. It is an exercise that is required to be done within a very limited timeframe.
“They have already started from two days ago, and they are still out compiling those reports.”
Mr Tunabuna said once the reports were submitted, the ministry would determine the type of assistance required.
“There are other areas where we come in very urgently due to the needs but there are also areas where we probably have to take time based on the requirements.”
He said urgent measures would focus on helping farmers recover or sell crops for financial relief while longer-term rehabilitation may depend on improved weather.
