AGRICULTURE, Waterways and Sugar Minister Tomasi Tunabuna says funding has been secured to bolster biosecurity operations ahead of the upcoming termite swarming season.
Speaking on coordinated strategies to curb the destructive pests, Mr Tunabuna emphasised that local engagement was vital.
“We have allocated funding for termite, and that’s with biosecurity (Biosecurity Authority of Fiji) but they run their operations based on their knowledge on the spread, and their knowledge on the effect of termites,” he said.
“They’ve already been preparing well for this upcoming swarming season.”
Termite swarming season in Fiji runs from September to November, with activity sometimes starting as early as mid-August.
Mr Tunabuna said the ministry was aligning its approach with the Commissioner Weston’s team and local provincial administrators, while pushing for active community participation. Furthermore, authorities are exploring insurance policies to ease financial constraints on the State.
Addressing industry stakeholders in Suva, Mr Tunabuna noted that broader program finalisation and threat-mitigation frameworks would be addressed in upcoming stakeholder meetings.
