Farmers urged not to let election period disrupt production

FARMERS should not let events like the General Election 2022 (GE22) disrupt production, according to the Farmers and Settlers Association Inc.
President Wilson Thompson said: “We have to beat the mentality that elections is time to relax and get free everything including meals from candidates.
“Back to government agencies, there should not be any reason that elections result in decreased production and productivity including exports.
“Evidence, coffee exporters sheds and warehouse was full and our coffee not bought for couple of days until the warehouse were cleared for exports.
“Agriculture remains the mainstay but policies aside, people voted for the money that came out from agriculture activities and alcohol and wines produced from local fruits.
“Hopefully, agriculture is given priority and with real tangible outcomes to change the way elections and voting is done.”
Thompson urged people to continue to work and produce from their land regardless of what was happening around them.
“I continued with the bulb onion and spring onion with Fresh Produce Development Agency,” he said.
“Kaukau planted in early this year has matured and visitors and friends are fed from my own garden.
“I continued with managing coffee blocks and continued selling parchment coffee.
“And we harvested coffee last week while de-suckering and spraying of weeds, also a coffee nursery in Obura-Wonenara for planting at Yonki”