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Akaka pushes
Star-Bulletin staff
drought-relief
bill to SenateU.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka's bill providing drought relief for Hawaii farmers received favorable treatment from the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
The bill was passed out from committee to the Senate, according to an Akaka announcement.
The measure directs the federal government to determine the cost of repairing irrigation systems and evaluate new ways to reclaim and recycle water and wastewater.
The Hawaii Water Resources Reclamation Act would also provide for drilling wells and other temporary drought remedies.
"Despite recent rains, neighbor island farmers have not fully recovered from our prolonged drought last summer," Akaka said. "With some areas having experienced water shortages for as long as four years, the recent rains do not ensure full recovery."
He said diversified agriculture "represents the future of Hawaii agriculture."
Farm receipts from diversified crops rose an average of 5.5 percent annually for the past three years, surpassing the $300 million mark for the first time, Akaka said.
