Fiji Potato production to move to the next phase

Full scale local potato production in Fiji will become a reality in three years' time, according to permanent secretary for Agriculture Colonel Mason Smith.

He said getting the local potato industry to the stage where it could successfully compete with imports would require a systematic approach that would take time.

"People need to understand that the current planting and harvesting in Nadarivatu and Sigatoka that's being done are part of a pilot project. There have been a lot of reports on local talkback shows questioning why we're not starting potato planting in Navua and other areas and the simple reason is we need to understand how best to prepare, plant, nurture and harvest this crop in a pilot program before venturing into full scale production,"he said.

Pilot projects currently being conducted had reached harvesting stage and local potatoes were now on sale in Lautoka and Suva.

Colonel Smith said now that the first phase of potato production was nearing completion, work would soon begin on the next phase which was more education oriented.