An urgent meeting has been called tomorrow by DISMAC where a decision is expected to be made on whether or not to declare an official drought nationwide.

This is after the National Disaster Management Office received a report late last night from specialists at the Nadi Weather Office.

Director DISMAC, Pajiliai Dobui confirmed receiving the report late yesterday and at the moment is in the process of contacting their various Government agencies such as the Agriculture, Environment, Education and Health Ministries for the meeting.

According to the report compiled by Research Scientist Doctor Sushil Sharma, over the next 2 to 3 months the situation is expected to worsen with the current weather expected to cause a drought situation which may be worse than the 1998 drought.

In the report, it stated that this is a result of three back-to-back dry weather spells since May 2009 and this has seen a lot of stress on rivers and water sources, and has seen a loss of moisture in the soil which is resulting in very dry grounds and this will see boreholes and wells drying up in the next two to three months.

The report highlights that Koronivia, Monasavu, Nausori Airport, Udu Point, Vunisea and Vanua Balavu weather stations have been under a drought warning for the past two months as they have recorded below average rainfall for the past 16 months.

Meanwhile, Jaswant Singh a Nabitu farmer in Sigatoka said that the last time they experienced such dry conditions was back in 1983. He said they rely on farming for income, adding their livelihood is at stake.

Singh said it is even hard now to find food for their cattle as most of the vegetation is gone.
 
The Nadi Weather Office confirmed that the meeting will be held at 2pm tomorrow at the DISMAC Office.


Story by: Paradise Tabucala/Praneeta Deo