Planting of potatoes continues in the Naitasiri province

The planting of potatoes continues in the third season in the Naitasiri province.

Senior Agriculture Officer Naitasiri, Adriano Tabualevu says seven farmers were given potato seeds to plant in two acres targeted for the province.

Tabualevu says some of the major crops grown in the area are dalo, kumala and ginger but potato is new to them which is just an additional source of income to their families.

He highlights that the major problem faced by the farmers in Tausa, Naitasiri is crossing the river for transporting produce to the market.

Meanwhile, a 39‑year‑old farmer, Mukesh Deo of Tausa planted one acre of potatoes alone which is 50 per cent of the targeted area in Naitasiri.

Mukesh has been farming in Tausa for the last 20 years and currently he has 20,000 dalo sucker on his farm, one acre of potatoes, ginger and kumala.

Mukesh was one of the few suppliers of kumala cuttings that supplied planting materials during the Tropical Cyclone Winston rehab period.

He is also one of the few major suppliers of ginger seeds to the Ministry of Agriculture under the 2016 Ginger Development Program and he is going to supply 30 metric tonnes of ginger before the end of this month.