Research is being conducted on new crops which would be suitable for cultivation in the dry zones of Fiji.

The Agriculture Ministry's Research Division is conducting trials with the crop Drumstick, commonly known as Saijan, which has been on trial at the Legalega research station in Nadi.

Acting Senior Research Officer, Shalendra Prasad says that this crop has great potential for the export market and the varieties being researched produces pods that are a meter in length and are ready for harvest within six months after planting.

He said some of the other new crops such as breadfruit, wheat, vegetable, soybean, vegetable pigeon pea and chickpea are also under research.

Prasad says that these commodities offer market potential for farmers where traditional crops and markets have collapsed or when farmers producing mainstream products want to spread their risk by diversifying.