Five tonnes of yams have already been harvested at the Dobuilevu Research Station in Ra for distribution to interested farmers as planting materials.
According to the station officer, Filimoni Raiyawa, farmers should request for the yam planting materials through their respective agricultural officers who will then place an order with the station.
“The number of farmers requesting for yam planting materials have been increasing every year so that is why the Research team in Dobuilevu is working hard to ensure that we produce more planting materials,” added Raiyawa.
Last year they produced 8677 kg of which 3663 kg were supplied to the farmers and 4770 kg was used for the planting material at the Research Station for this year.
“About 244 kg of yam were affected by the taro beetle last year,” said Raiyawa.
“Farmers in Ra have also increased their acreage of yams as it is a good source of food security especially with the advantage of a longer storage life.”
The Dobuilevu research station is also currently carrying out trials on yams, kumala, cassava, kawai and dalo under their Plant Genetic Resources Root Crops Trial Centre. They are researching 54 varieties of yams, 9 varieties of Kumala, 27 varieties of cassava, 16 varieties of Kawai and assorted varieties of dalo.
Farmers interested in growing any of these crop varieties are advised to contact their nearest agriculture office on how to purchase the planting materials.
Yams trial plots at Dobuilevu Research Station
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