Potato planting has started again in Fiji in the Wailailai Settlement in the district of Mataso exactly four decades after planting the first spud, with more than 80 farmers in the province of Ra kicking off the new season.
Ra will be planting a total of 0.9 hectares during this planting season and expects to harvest 90-100 tons of potatoes in three months' time.
According to senior Agriculture officer, Adriano Tabualevu, potatoes were last planted in the 1970s,. At that time, the market was not very lucrative as farmers were selling at 5 cents per kilogram.
Fiji’s potato imports currently stands at $17 million annually and Tabualevu says the government is working towards reducing potato imports by 5 percent and hopes that farmers will realize the need to keep forging ahead with their potato cultivation.
“Government is looking at farmers to bring about great changes to our economy especially in the reduction of imports such as rice and potatoes,” he said.
Another senior agriculture officer, (Ra) Petero Mausio, said the potato is a 90-days crop and should be given equal attention like all other crops.
About 11 farmers and farming groups from the province will be cultivating the first crop for this year and others farmers are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the first season of potato planting.
The farmers have been taught various methods of potato planting, especially its agronomic practices, pest control, harvesting as well as its food value.
KG06
