Fiji imports about 16,000 tonnes of potatoes valued at $17 million each year and attempts are now being made to reduce the importation of potatoes.

Potato imports have drastically increased over the last 20 years as in 1980, only 9,167 tonnes of potatoes valued at $2.63 million were imported.

Now the government is taking active steps through the Agriculture Ministry to bring about great changes to our economy especially in the reduction of imports such as rice and potatoes.

The province of Ra officially launched the potato planting season this week at Wailailai Settlement, and it was attended by more than 80 farmers.

Senior agriculture officer Adriano Tabualevu said potato planting for the province of Ra is not a new thing as it was grown way back in the 1970s but the market was not that lucrative as most farmers were selling at 5 cents per kilogram.

Ra will be planting a total of 0.9 hectares during this potato planting season and is expected to harvest 90 to 100 tonnes of potatoes in three months time.

Agriculture officials said potato is a 90 day crop and should be given equal attention like all other crops.

Speaking at the Fiji Institute of Accountants Congress, Reserve Bank of Fiji Governor Sada Reddy revealed that Flour Mills of Fiji will work closely with the farmers that have been earmarked for potato cultivation this year.

Reddy said he understands that FMF currently buys 400,000 kilograms of potatoes annually for producing potato chips, and with this new venture FMF will be able to lessen the import bill for potatoes.
 
Chairman of Flour Mills of Fiji Group of Companies Hari Punja said they are ready to use the local potatoes to produce the FMF brand of chips.