THE prolonged dry weather has affected vegetable gardens and community activities in Vunika, Labasa, resident Samson Jet says.
Mr Jet, who identified himself as a resident rather than a farmer, said the dry conditions were felt strongly within the community.
He said plants were drying out because of the lack of rainfall, affecting residents who relied on their gardens.
“It had rained for two days but it was not enough,” he said.
He said residents now had to buy their vegetables from the market, but the prices there had also gone up.
“Many of us rely heavily on our backyard gardens to supplement our daily meals, and seeing the crops wither away is deeply worrying.”
He said the residents were now looking into alternative ways to sustain their household gardens, hoping for more consistent rainfall in the coming weeks. “We are resilient people, but if this dry weather continues without proper relief, the situation for families in Vunika will only get tougher.”
