The construction of a new floodgate in Waikete village in Tailevu will prevent salt water reaching farms and crops in the village.
Newly constructed floodgate at Waikete
The construction of a floodgate is a combined effort by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) Program to support families, especially farmers, whose crops are affected by the high salinity content in the soil.
The new floodgate will reduce and eventually stop salt water from reaching the village which has affected the quality of farm produce.
The Ministry’s Land and Water Resource Management (LWRM) Division director, Colin Simmons, explained that the new floodgate would also mitigate flooding in the village.
“The village is located on a very low lying area and is prone to flooding when there is heavy rain,” he said.
The Ministry’s LWRM Division with funding from the PACC Program started the construction of the floodgate at end of September last year.
“Waikete village is a pilot project area for the PACC Program and this was one of the last projects for 2014 in the Central Division.”
Mr Simmons added that the new structure has improved features to provide more efficient conveyance capacity to discharge floodwaters.
Waikete Village headman Mr Malakai Tauyava said the new floodgate would greatly benefit the farmers and keep the village safe from flooding.
DEPTFO