Around 1,100 hectares of crops valued at about $5 million were damaged by heavy rain and floods in Ba.

Agriculture Officer Ba Saidi Achari said the value of the crop damage was high because vegetable farms were mainly near the river banks with about 60% of the farmers having lost their crops.

As a result of the crop damage, export of locally grown fruits and vegetables has substantially dropped because 40% of all total exports in the Western Division come from Ba.

According to the Ministry of Primary Industries the export of locally grown fruits and vegetables that was hindered by the recent devastating floods and heavy rain is expected to normalize in three to four months.


Story by: William Waqavakatoga