Cultivation of the seeds, which arrived from New Zealand and are of the Red Rascal variety, is scheduled to start next month.

Currently the government pays $19 million to import potatoes.

Acting senior agriculture officer, Viliame Mainawalala, said: "The officials that have been working on the programme are from the Extension, Research and Bio-Security Divisions of the Agriculture Department and they are ensuring the smooth process of the various planting programmes for the areas that will be cultivating potato."