Urgent steps are being taken to ensure agricultural produce can be transported easily from Lautoka to Malau in Labasa.

Minister for Primary Industries Joketani Cokanasiga said dredging works are underway to make an entrance to the Fiji Forest Industries jetty in Macuata.

Cokanasiga had been instrumental in initiating the opinion of a navigational channel to this jetty to assist transfer of agro products from Lautoka to Malau and Malau to Lautoka.

He said works is being carried out at the Malau jetty to stimulate commercial trade in the Northern Division and the dredging works currently undertaken is to facilitate the berthing of vessels.

Cokanasiga said commercial shipping companies had approached the Ministry of Primary Industries to assist in opening up FFI jetty for commercial trade and for the shipment of fertilizer from Lautoka thus the need to facilitate.

Director Land and Water Resource Management Lakshman Mudaliar said the FFI jetty was very shallow for big ships to navigate and deliver goods for people of Macuata.

The work involves dredging a channel up to 200m long and 200m wide and the volume of material that will be excavated is 40,000 cubic meters.

Works are expected to be completed by the end of July.