THE Western Division Drainage Board has assisted 373 farming households affected by climate change.

Board acting chairman Faiyaz Ali said rising sea levels had been affecting farmers for a number of years.

“We have about 40 schemes that we are looking after and we have constructed about 21 spill ways, 25 outfall structures, 20 floodgate structures and 37 culvert crossings,” he said.

“Our farmers have been feeling the impacts of climate change and we are trying to help them by building floodgates and spill ways that will protect their farms.

“All of this has been done to protect low-lying farms from saltwater and assist farmers increase the yield of their crops.

“Climate change is causing sea level rises hence contributing to the contamination of farm land.

“This event is a threat to our country’s food security.

“Yield is only increased if crops are grown in good conditions. Proper drainage is critical in increasing crop yields.”

Mr Ali said the $325,000 funding for the projects was from the Ministry of Agriculture.

“Government provided drainage subsidy in conjunction with the Lands and Water Resource Management Division in the West,” he said.

“Water logging projects was one of the areas that we concentrated on and right now we have maintained about 48.2 kilometres of drain and we have installed 42 crossings and 42.5km new farm drains.”

Mr Ali said these projects were done in areas between Sigatoka and Rakiraki.

“For the first time as well, we managed to plant about 75 acres of rice farmlands in these areas where we could.

“In 2015, we purchased 18 metres rubber seals for floodgates and other essential items at a total cost of $18,000.

“With these assistance from Government, we hope to continue our assistance for our farmers who live near coastal areas.”