The Government of New Zealand has announced it will offer technical assistance to Fiji for developing its potato industry. The two countries have signed a bilateral agreement which will see more assistance being given towards Fiji.

Biosecurity Authority of Fiji – CEO Hillary Kumwenda says this is an important step for Fiji to ensure the versatile crop is given the best possible platform to thrive.

“One of them is that we have agreed that going forward we are going to host one of the representatives from Potato NZ that will come to Fiji and do a trace in terms of the quality when they leave from NZ from the farm gate up to the time it comes to the wharf and right up to the shelves,” according to New Zealand’s authorities, cited by fbc.com.fj.

Potatoes NZ CEO Chris Calridge says that they have also indicated to the Agriculture Ministry that they are offering scholarships to help build technical capacity for a growth of Fijian potatoes.