WHEN Raynil Kumar earned $30,000 from the sale of 11 tonnes of dalo last month, he instantly made the bold decision to go into farming full time.

“I am a graduate and used to work in a supermarket in Suva,” 26-year-old Mr Kumar said.

“When the COVID-19 lockdown happened, I moved to Waidravo in Serea, Naitasiri to be with my family.

“I have 150 acres of land in which I do dairy and dalo farming and I have already planted dalo on 20 acres and I’m planning to plant 80,000 dalo tops in the near future.”

Mr Kumar said he had tentatively gone into dalo farming five years ago and was now reaping the rewards of that decision.

He said dalo farming was labour intensive but the financial rewards were worth the effort.

Mr Kumar said one of the biggest issues he and other farmers in the area were facing was weeds.

He said the Agriculture Ministry should look into removing the ban on weedkiller, paraquat.

Paraquat was banned from January 1 this year.

While addressing Lomaivuna farmers recently, Agriculture Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy said chemicals used in farms were a health hazard.

He said chemical weedicides were one of the major causes of cancer in Fiji.

Dr Reddy was sent questions to ascertain the source of his claims but the queries remain