Farmers on Taveuni, Fiji, are still reeling in the aftermath of Hurricane Tomas which left the Northern regions of the country devastated three weeks ago.
The Garden Island took the worst beating from the destructive hurricane, leading the Northern Division with a hefty crop damage bill of more than $28 million. Damage to yaqona (kava) plantations alone stood at $19 million.
Farmers on the island are now calling for State assistance of chemicals and manure to speed up their replanting efforts.
Farmer James Sami told the Fiji Times Hurricane Tomas had brought many farmers to their knees with many still reeling from their losses.
Mr Sami lost 4000 yaqona plants and 12,000 dalo (taro) but he said he had fared better than others.
"We are left with nothing and our immediate need is to get back into replanting," he said. "And chemicals and fertiliser will speed up the process."
A radio station team from New Zealand, Apna 990, recently visited the Northern Division and distributed aid valued at $133,000 among more than 3000 families.
Permanent Secretary for Agriculture Colonel Mason Smith said the supply of fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides was part of the first phase of rehabilitation planned for farmers.
There are three stages of rehabilitation for the worst affected areas. The first involves restoration of food security; the second features the recovery of economic crops and maintenance of roads and the third is the mitigation of future losses via the relocation of farms to safer locations.
* Fiji Times / IW Online