The Fiji Government has launched six targeted initiatives to help farmers cope with prolonged dry conditions caused by El Niño, with assistance covering emergency water supplies, livestock feed, planting materials, climate-resilient farming and household food security.
Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry Tomasi Tunabuna said the initiatives were developed following assessments of conditions across the country and reports of increasing pressure on farmers, agricultural production and household livelihoods.
Speaking at the launch, Tunabuna said the Ministry had received reports of declining water availability, crop losses, deteriorating pastures, livestock feed shortages, pressure on household food supplies and reduced farm incomes.
“To our farmers across Fiji, we hear you. We recognise the challenges you are facing, and we understand the pressure that prolonged dry conditions are placing on your farms, livelihoods and families,” he said.
The six initiatives are designed to address the immediate needs of different farming sectors while strengthening Fiji’s capacity to maintain food production during prolonged dry conditions.
The first initiative, Emergency Farm Water and Irrigation, will provide targeted assistance through water tanks, emergency water delivery, water conveyance systems, irrigation kits and sugarcane irrigation where technically appropriate.
The second will support livestock farmers through cut-and-carry feeding, silage, supplementary feed, livestock water, strategic destocking advice, bee feed and essential veterinary treatment.
Under the third initiative, farmers will receive support to access climate-resilient planting materials and seeds for crops including dalo ni tana, kawai, tivoli, yams, vegetables, kumala, rice, dalo and cassava. Strategic multiplication blocks will also be established to improve the supply of planting materials for recovery and future production.
The fourth initiative will promote climate-smart agriculture and soil moisture conservation through mulching, minimum tillage, cover crops, protected cropping, drip irrigation, drought-tolerant varieties, demonstration sites and water harvesting.
The fifth will focus on household and community food security through home gardening, community nurseries, backyard farming and communal food production, particularly in communities facing pressure on food supplies.
The sixth initiative will target the sugar industry through trash retention, minimum tillage, crop-stress mapping, crop checks, targeted irrigation, wildfire advisories and access to suitable early-maturity seed cane.
Tunabuna said the measures recognise that farmers across different sectors face varying challenges and require targeted assistance.
He urged affected farmers to review the prospectuses for the six initiatives and submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for assistance that addresses their immediate needs.
The EOI process will initially remain open for one week. The Ministry will then assess the number, location and nature of applications to determine whether the submission period should be extended.
Tunabuna clarified that submitting an EOI does not guarantee assistance, with all applications subject to eligibility requirements, field verification, technical suitability, severity of impact and available resources.
He called on farmers to provide complete and accurate information to ensure assistance is distributed fairly and reaches those most affected by the dry conditions.
Earlier, the Ministry convened Fiji’s Food Security Cluster meeting, bringing together stakeholders to coordinate interventions and identify practical support for farmers, exporters, households and consumers.
Tunabuna said the effects of El Niño extended beyond individual farms, with declining agricultural production having potential consequences for food availability, market supplies, food prices, exports, rural incomes and household nutrition.
He said an effective national response required cooperation between Government agencies, development partners, farmer organisations, research institutions, exporters, the private sector, civil society and communities.
The Ministry has also engaged the World Food Forum Fiji Youth Chapter, the Fiji Women Farmers Network, civil society organisations and community representatives to ensure the response addresses the needs of women farmers, young people, persons living with disabilities, minority groups, remote communities and vulnerable households.
The six initiatives mark the first stage of the Ministry’s targeted El Niño response, with conditions continuing to be monitored and interventions reviewed as further information becomes available.
Tunabuna also urged farmers and communities to conserve water, protect water sources, follow wildfire advisories and avoid unnecessary burning.
He encouraged farmers to adopt practical measures such as mulching, minimum tillage, water harvesting, efficient irrigation and maintaining soil cover to reduce moisture loss.
“To our farmers, you are at the heart of Fiji’s food and nutrition security. You sustain our communities, supply our markets, support our rural economy and contribute to the wellbeing of our nation.
“We may not be able to address every challenge immediately, but we will continue to listen, assess and act,” he said.
