Government has secured a quota for ginger to be farmed on Kadavu in its efforts to eliminate marijuana farming. Minister for Defence, National Security and Policing, Rural and Maritime Development, Inia Seruiratu, said the Ministry of Agriculture had recently secured a 10-tonne quota for the island through a ginger farming company.
“We are slowly making arrangements,” he said.
“We are not rushing into it becaue it is a new crop and it is also a new alternative for the farmers in Kadavu.”
Mr Seruiratu said they were in high hopes that the crop would generate interest through the money it could rake in.
“It is a short-term crop to produce,” he said.
“It will be good for them because we are trying our very best to provide them with options so that they can come away from marijuana cultivation.”
“What is also important is the infrastructure development, particularly now with the road from Vunisea down to Kavala.”
With the new roads, other smaller roads will be constructed to reach villages and communities so that transporting plants is made easier for farmers.
“It will give us options so that they can bring alternative crops and livestock. We are looking at the forest-based sector as well to bring to the communities in Kadavu,” he said.
Rakiraki Village (Yale, Kadavu) headman, Aisake Mata, welcomed the idea of ginger farming when Mr Seruiratu visited his village last month.
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