Ministry fights to maintain integrity of red papaya breed
IN a bid to uphold the superior quality of Fiji’s renowned Red Papaya, the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways held a refresher training session for extension officers.
The gathering, held at the Nacocolevu Research Station in Sigatoka, brought together more than 20 agricultural officers from the Western Division.
The training session, which took place this week, centered on crucial aspects such as papaya seeds, seedlings, and methods to combat the deterioration of the
Fiji Red Papaya’s quality.
With a primary goal of preserving the purity and excellence of this Hawaiian variety, officials stressed the importance of stringent protocols.
Shalendra Prasad, the director for Crop Research at the Ministry of Agriculture and
Waterways, underscored the uniqueness of Fiji’s preservation efforts, highlighting that Fiji stands as the sole guardian of the genetic purity of the Hawaiian variety since its introduction in the late 1960s.
Mr Prasad emphasised the ministry’s stringent stance against importing papaya planting materials to safeguard the local produce.
During the training session, Mr Prasad emphasised the need for interactive discussions and knowledge sharing to ensure uniformity in procedures among stakeholders.
This, he stated, was crucial for maintaining high-quality papaya production, which catered to both domestic consumption and export markets.
The ministry plans to extend similar training sessions to nursery operators and farmers, further fortifying efforts to sustain the exceptional standards of the Fiji Red Papaya.