Ra improves dalo exports. Photo: FILE
By WAISEA NASOKIA
The Ra province is working towards creating awareness in the tikinas to improve dalo production.
Ra provincial administrator, Sitiveni Tavaga yesterday said there has been a decline in the production of dalo for export and there is a demand for farmers to plant more in the province.
“The province is working tirelessly to create awareness for consistent farming for dalo,” Mr Tavaga said.
“We have specially targeted the tikinas of Nalawa, Nasau, Nakuilava, and Bureivanua as they have the best suitable fertile environment to boost the production once utilized to the max. We have visited those villagers within those Tikina on the importance to increase the production.”
Mr Tavaga highlighted that an export market has been open since 2011 yet dalo supply has not been fully reached the demand.
“This does not mean that farmers have not been planting dalo. They do but after harvesting and when they receive the money, they are found to be in relaxed state, and forgot continuing the cycle, to produce more so that the demand is not always being met.
“We have the market for export within the province so we really have to be mindful to be economical.”
Mr Tavaga said the province has also brought to light the emphasis to be placed on other agricultural commodities such as cocoa and ginger for larger scale production.
“Another area we have been looking into is cocoa and ginger production,” he said.