It is Potato Planting Season on Fiji

On Fiji, planting season for potatoes has begun in the Western division.

The Agriculture Ministry says 33 tonnes of potato seeds that were imported from Australia have been distributed to local farmers.

The Ministry’s Principal Research Officer Horticulture Shalendra Prasad says the demand for potatoes in the current market is high.

Shalendra Prasad, the Ministry’s Principal Research Officer Horticulture:

“The seeds we have bought it from Australia it was about ninety thousand Fijian dollars taking into consideration the shipment and clearing."

"So finally the seeds have arrived in the country and farmers are being given the opportunity to once again plant potatoes in this season."

"Potatoes is an easy crop and there’s lot of farmers who wants to plant and try the local potatoes-there’s also a lot of demand in the market for interest potatoes so the interest is there and farmers are being selected carefully by our extension division so we want to make this program a success.”

The Government is currently distributing these potato seeds to farmers free of charge.

Farmers are being urged to look after their crops properly by providing proper husbandry and crop management.