The Ministry of Agriculture is looking forward to produce a total of 80 acres of potatoes throughout Viti Levu and Vanua Levu this season.
Principal Research Officer Horticulture, Shalendra Prasad says the planting of potatoes have started in the Sigatoka Valley last week.
Prasad says to reduce the import of potatoes the Ministry is embarking on growing and producing potatoes locally.
He says they have imported 33 tonnes of potato seeds this season and the planting of potatoes has already started in the western division with the seedlings valued at $97,000.
Prasad adds the seeds were bought from Australia and the Ministry is distributing the seeds to farmers for free.
He says the extension officers of the Ministry are working with the farmers to help them on land preparation, distribution of seed material and supervising the farmers on how to plant potatoes.
The potato seeds will be distributed to the farmers in the Western division including Nadroga/Navosa, Ra province, Nadi and Lautoka.
The seeds are also expected to be distributed in the Central division in Navua and Tailevu and later in the Northern Division.
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