GOVERNMENT knew as early as January that El Nino was coming, yet farmers are only now being promised assistance packages that may arrive after the dry spell is over.
Member of Parliament Vijay Nath said this when the Parliament Standing Committee on Natural Resource discussed the Ministry of Agriculture’s 2022-2023 annual report.
He said early warning was not matched with early preparation.
“The package which we are talking about now, by the time you implement, you’ll find the weather pattern change,” he said.
“People need this assistance now.
“And this should have been addressed when we were making the annual corporate plan because the report was given earlier in January somewhere that we expect El Nino.”
He drew comparison with cyclone warnings.
“Just like last month we were given warning that they will have four or five cyclones. It’s already given and we’re expecting two for Fiji. So, preparation is well ahead. So where have we failed?”
Ministry of Agriculture permanent secretary Andrew Tukana responded saying the budget planning started in March and El Nino was factored in.
“The budgeted component of irrigation and drainage and water storage facility, those are all included in the package of activities that were funded.”
Mr Tukana said the Ministry was now reprioritising based on NDMO and Fiji Met’s red-flag areas
“The red flag areas were relayed by NDMO to the clusters in the El Nino preparedness presentation. And that’s when we saw red flags were the western of Viti Levu and Macuata in Vanua Levu.”
“So, we are reprioritising those areas, are reprioritising activities to focus on those areas while also not undermining what is happening in other provinces as well.”
