Learning from Indonesian rice farming
15-Sep-2008 08:21 AM

INDONESIAN rice farming methods and technologies would be introduced to local rice farmers during a two-week training programme which begins tomorrow in Navua.

The Ministry of Primary Industry says some 25 farmers will be involved in the training to be facilitated by four experienced rice farmers and an official from the Department of Agriculture.

Senior Agriculture Officer (Serua/Namosi), Sugrim Chand said the four farmers to be engaged as resource personnel were from the northern division.

He revealed they underwent four months of training on cultivation technologies of rice in Indonesia last year.

“With their experiences and training, we anticipate a good training for these rice farmers in Navua and hope that they will be able to grasp the various technologies for producing quality rice with quantity in mind,” Chand said.
“These rice farmers of Navua have resumed planting rice due to the recent price hike on imported rice after a lapse of 12 years,” he added.

Chand said some 20 farmers had already planted an average of 0.4 hectares each using the traditional low yielding broadcasting technology with improved varieties.

The introduction of the new technologies will enable farmers to improve rice production.

“The purpose of conducting this training is to introduce the Indonesian and Chinese technologies to these rice farmers so that they can produce higher yields and make sure that quality is maintained at all times,” said Chand.

During the two-week training, farmers will learn land preparation with machine demonstrations.

They will also learn how to prepare seed beds, bund management and field markings.

The opening of the training will begin at 8am and will be opened by the Indonesian Ambassador.

Source: Fiji Daily Post