THE prolonged dry spell has had a huge impact on farmers in the North, with the dry conditions affecting crop production.
While raising his concerns about food security, the principal agriculture officer Northern Surendra Prasad said farmers needed to find ways to continue producing crops despite the current weather conditions.
“We are experiencing prolonged dry weather, which means drought. Our Fiji Met has predicted this drought will continue until January,” he said.
Mr Prasad said farmers needed to consider what changes could be made to maintain food production during the dry period.
“Climate change is now a reality and farmers needed to adjust to changing weather conditions.”
He said farmers were problem-solvers who had to find ways to grow crops despite unpredictable weather.
“The prolonged dry conditions could affect the amount of produce available for families and markets and also affect farmers who depend on crops for income.”
He urged farmers to seek advice from agriculture officers on suitable farming methods during the dry spell.
“Agriculture teams are readily available to those who may need assistance and to provide advice and assistance to farmers.”
He said farmers needed to consider new ways of producing crops and use the knowledge available to them.
“Maintaining food production is important for food security in the North.”
He said farmers, agriculture officers and communities needed to work together to ensure food continued to be produced despite the dry conditions.
