Drought takes its toll in the North and West

[posted 26 Aug 2010,1500]

People, crops and livestock in rural areas are struggling to survive as wells, creeks and boreholes dry up in the prolonged drought that has gripped the country.

Even piped urban centres in the West and North are facing acute water cuts, some for three/four days a week as reservoirs run low on water.

A National Farmers Union survey of the cane belt shows that most divisions have not received any significant rain in the past four to five months, in some areas no rain at all.

Although government is supplying some water in urban centres facing water cuts, most rural sectors claim calls for delivery of emergency water have not been met. The drought is worst in hilly areas which is difficult for water delivery trucks to reach, in any case.

In Labasa, the Divisional office said it had received no funding allocation to meet the emergency: so there is no delivery of emergency water supplies.

Damage to cane crop

Damage to standing cane crop from the prolonged drought is put at between 20% in the North to about 40% in the worst affected areas of Nadi and Sigatoka; in Lautoka and Ba it ranges from 30% of the crop in the hills to 20% in low lying areas. Penang hopes that most of the 2010 crop will be harvested before conditions worsen.

The standing crop is losing weight fast and unless it is harvested as soon as possible, the loss to the industry can be quite substantial this year. Certainly, the revised estimate of 1.9million tonnes needs further revision.

Most badly affected, however, is the 2011 crop. Most ratoons are drying up and the new planting that had taken place under the interim government’s $400 an acre crop assistance programme, have dried up.

Lack of grass and water is having a devastating effect on livestock.

Worst affected areas:

• Ba: Vutuni, Vatusui, Sarava,Karavi, Busa Busa, Naroko, Lutua, Bilolo, Natanuku and Tauveqaveqa.

• Lautoka: Teidamu and other hilly areas

• Nadi: Legalega, Maigunyah, Qeleloa, Malolo, Nawaicoba and Yako.

• Sigatoka: Cuvu, Olosara and Lomawai most severely affected

• Labasa and Bua: Most affected are the coastal areas of Wainikoro – Papalagi, Wavuwavu, Vunivutu, Lagalaga; and in Bua- Manidevo, Nasarawaqa, and Lekutu