New Rice Harvester to Aid Qelewaqa Farmers
Published on: December 29, 2023.
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16 members of the Qelewaqa Cooperative in the Macuata area are set to benefit from a new rice harvester, thanks to 1/3 government assistance and a 2/3 contribution from the cooperative. This development will make rice harvesting in 2024 much easier for these farmers.
Kaiyaz Khan, the president of the Qelewaqa Cooperative, revealed that the farmers had been facing challenges in harvesting rice due to the lack of appropriate equipment. With 200 acres of rice fields to tend to, traditional methods were proving to be inefficient. Khan explained, “At times, when rice gets mature, we just go and look for a rice harvester to help with the harvesting. At times, we don’t get the rice harvesters on time. So what we members decided was that we purchase a rice harvester for us.”
By acquiring the new harvester, the cooperative members will not only be able to harvest rice on time but also assist other farmers in the area. Additional farmers will have the option to use the harvester for a reasonable fee, which will cover the fuel costs and the operator’s wages.
Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Tomasi Tunabuna, also spoke about the government’s plans for the rice industry. Tunabuna emphasized the importance of having a thriving rice industry, stating, “We have a lot of competition in the market. When it comes to selling our rice, one thing we should understand is that if we don’t have a rice industry, we are going to import it all the time. So if we have a rice industry, we can grow our own rice. We will be relying on the importation of rice.”
In line with this, the coalition government is prioritizing the development of the agriculture sector in the Northern Division, including the rice industry. With the new harvester and the government’s support, the Qelewaqa Cooperative and other farmers in the area can look forward to a prosperous future in rice cultivation.
