Great potential

DESPITE our dependency on a number of agricultural crops for both the export market and local consumption, the research and development aspect I believe only relates to dedicated state-run research facilities for three crops only — mainly sugar, rice and copra. This is to enable the proper development of these crops, backed by appropriate and effective scientific research.

We are now being told that a specifically dedicated research station is to be established for yaqona. This is obviously a good development and one that has been a very, very long-time coming.

I believe that to ensure the proper development and commercialisation of our agricultural crops, it must be underlined by appropriate scientific research and data analysis and obviously conducted here in Fiji. I think we owe that to our selves and to the farmers.

I know that we have great unexploited potentials in the agricultural sectors, but whatever we develop commercially must be backed by appropriate research.

I really hope that the next in line would be dedicated research facilities for our traditional staple crops, such as dalo, yam, cassava, kumala and tivoli

as well as breadfruit, vudi,

jackfruit, duruka, ivi, vutu, dawa, wi, kavika and others including citrus fruits, particularly those that are not covered by research done in overseas facilities.

The move on yaqona is a good start.

EDWARD BLAKELOCK Admiral Circle,

Pacific Harbour