A women’s NGO in Samoa will carry out a Cyclone Evan farm-to-farm needs analysis in Upolu this week.

Women in Business Development Incorporated says its fieldworkers are giving up their holiday break to do the detailed analysis.

Executive director Adi Maimalaga Tafuna’i says her staff recognised that many farmers are in desperate need of help out there.

She says this work is incredibly important and will it help her group in 2013 to target the families who need help the most and to get them back on their feet.

She says this is similar to what they did after the 2009 tsunami.

The organisation has two teams going out on December 27, 28, 29 and then again on January 3, 4 and 5.

Aside from Women in Business farmers, Adi Maimalaga says they will also be checking on neighbouring properties to make sure those families are alright.

Staff will record the impact of the cyclone, analyse the families’ needs and update contact details.

Meanwhile, many Women in Business production staff are also going to work through the Christmas break in an effort to meet their virgin coconut oil and dried banana exports.

Adi Maimalaga says they had a shipment due the week before Christmas but Cyclone Evan delayed that.

However, they still have an opportunity to complete the order and ship it out mid-January.