From left: Divneel Ram, Rohini Devi, Rishika Devi and Kiran Wati take a walk along the arid land in Tavarau Ba on August 25, 2018.
Photo: Yogesh Chandra A Tavarau family in Ba are bracing for what they anticipate will be the worst drought to hit the Western Division.
“District officers from Lautoka have inspected the well and advised the family not to drink from it.” Mrs Wati said her family had been using the borehole for the past 25 years, however, the impact of this drought made it unsuitable to continue drinking from it.
“Everything is drying up in our fields.
If this continues, all our plants and animals will die,” she said.
Family member, Rohini Devi, 36, said they could not plant vegetables on their land now because of the water shortage and dry soil.
The family also raises livestock such as goats and cattle, however, the lack of proper grazing pasture has taken its toll as well.
“We constantly have to look for feed from elsewhere to feed our livestock.
“Despite this setback, the family is thankful to the Government for distributing clean drinking water to households during this severe drought.” For now all Mrs Wati, Ms Devi and family members can do is to pray for rain to provide water for their gardens and farm animals.
Edited by Percy Kean