China helps Fiji reduce reliance on imported rice

A team of rice experts from China helped Fiji to implement a rice development program worth some 5 million U.S. dollars in Vanua Levu, Fiji's major northern island, the Fijian government announced Wednesday.

Uraia Waibuta, acting permanent secretary of Fiji's Ministry of Agriculture said the Chinese expert team is in the South Pacific island country to demonstrate and train farmers and agriculture officers the technologies to increase rice production, to improve local varieties and introduce best cultivation techniques to local rice farmers, according to the Department of Information.

The team is expected to work at the Northern Dreketi Irrigation Project on 200 hectares of rice land extension and also at the Koronivia Research Station for rice seeds experiment and research.

A memorandum of understanding between China and Fiji has been signed to boost rice production in Fiji.

The China Shandong International Economic and Technical Cooperation Group Limited in technical partnership with world- known hybrid rice seeds company, Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture Company Limited are expected to work together with Fiji's Ministry of Agriculture in producing more rice locally.

Fiji currently imports some 20 million U.S. dollar worth of rice annually, the Department of Information said, adding that " the assistance provided by the Chinese rice experts is an opportunity for Fiji to reduce its rice import bill". Endi