The Ministry of Agriculture, Waterways, and Sugar Industry has received an overwhelming 638 applications under its Farm Support Initiative, launched to assist farmers recovering from Tropical Cyclone Vaianu.
The Ministry said the response reflected “a strong national commitment to rebuilding and enhancing our agricultural resilience in the face of adversity.”
Western Division recorded the highest number of applications at 559, with Ba accounting for 357, Nadroga/Navosa 133, and Ra 69. In comparison, Kadavu in the Eastern Division submitted 56 applications, while Naitasiri in the Central Division recorded 23.
“Our data clearly shows the Western Division has borne the brunt of the cyclone’s impact, and the level of response highlights the urgency for targeted support,” the Ministry said.
The applications span a wide range of crops, with cassava leading at 209 applicants, followed by eggplant (92), yaqona (54), banana (36), and papaya and long bean (31 each).
Officials noted a significant gap in farm mechanisation, with only 128 applicants owning tractors, while 480 farmers reported having no access to machinery.
“This gap underscores the need to strengthen mechanisation support to improve efficiency and recovery across affected areas,” the Ministry added.
The Ministry confirmed that field verification of applications will begin immediately and is expected to be completed within one and a half weeks.
“Verification is critical to ensuring transparency and efficiency. We urge all farmers to cooperate fully with our officers during this process to enable timely assistance,” the statement said.
The Ministry added that verification reports and recommendations would be finalised within the same timeframe, paving the way for expedited disbursement of support to affected farmers.
