7 Apr 2010

Fiji relief effort now focussed on food and crops

10:09 am on 7 April 2010

Fiji's agricultural sector is at the centre of relief efforts with disaster officials distributing seedlings to avoid future food shortages.

Last month's cyclone killed at least two people and caused extensive damage to buildings, including schools, with agriculture the worst hit sector, sustaining damage estimated at 27 million US dollars.

The permanent secretary for Agriculture, Mason Smith, says the government's been asked for 1 point three million US dollars to rehabilitate the sector.

Mr Smith says the focus will be primarily on supporting villagers in planting short term crops and veggies, followed by so-called economic crops and livestocks.

He says officials have distributed a first ration of seedlings, with more to come.