PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 3:13 PM by Luigi

Duruka in Fiji

There have been two articles recently in the Fiji Times on duruka, or Saccharum edule. This is known as pitpit in PNG, where there are probably many more than the 2 varieties mentioned for Fiji. There are germplasm collections in Fiji (Naduruloulou Research Station, Ministry of Agriculture, Sugar and Land Resettlement) and PNG (NARI Wet Lowlands Islands Programme – Keravat, East New Britain Province; 15 accessions). The articles are reproduced below...

Duruka a hit overseas (Saturday, March 19, 2005)

THE locally-grown crop duruka (Saccharum edule) is gaining popularity overseas, says the manager of a local food canning company.

"Last year the company exported 2000 cartons of canned duruka," said Food Processors Fiji Limited manager Dron Prasad. "This year the target is 6000 cartons.

The company is willing to buy 80-100,000 bundles of duruka this year at the farm gate price of $2 a bundle and they will also provide the transport if the farmers can supply more than a thousand bundles of duruka."

He said duruka was popular amongst locals residing overseas.

The company packs duruka into brine-filled 400gram cans and exports them to Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America.

Most of their duruka suppliers are from the Tailevu, Naitasiri, Korovou, Vunidawa and Namosi areas.

Savenaca Tuivaga, a senior agriculture assistant at the Vunidawa office, said most of the farmers in the tikina of Waima planted duruka as a source of income.

The farmers in the area will be harvesting duruka in a few weeks time, he said. They expect to harvest more than 800 bundles this year. Naqara Village in Naitasiri is another of the company's biggest suppliers.

Last year the farmers supplied 7548 bundles of duruka valued at $15,096, a 4.8 per cent increase when compared to the previous year.

The main season for duruka is from April to June. It takes about six to eight months for the plant to mature after planting.

The plant belongs to the same family as sugarcane - the grass family, and is actually the flower of wild sugar cane.

Local delicacy back in season (Monday, March 14, 2005)

Duruka is in season once again with bundles selling at up to $6 in the markets and roadsides. The Ministry of Agriculture in a recent release stated that Duruka or Saccharum edule was gaining popularity in overseas markets very quickly. Local canning company Food Processors Fiji Limited packs duruka with brine in 400 grams can and exports to Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America.

Production manager Dron Prasad said duruka was popular with local people overseas and last year the company exported 2000 cartons of duruka and expecting to pack 6,000 cartons this year.

"The company is willing to buy 80 to 100,000 bundles of duruka this year at the farm gate price of $2 a bundle and will provide transport if the farmers can supply more than 1000 bundles.''
There are two varieties of duruka: Green local variety and Red local variety.

The Red variety matures between December to January while the green variety that is canned season is usually ready between February to March with supplies coming in from Tailevu, Naitasiri, Korovou, Vunidawa and Namosi.

Senior Agriculture Assistant at Vunidawa Savenaca Tuivaga said most of the farmers in Waima tikina planted duruka as a source of income. He said the farmers of Naqara Village were one of the biggest suppliers of duruka to Food Processors Fiji Limited.



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DIVA-GIS	Sunday, March 20, 2005 Posted 3:13 PM by Luigi Duruka in Fiji There have been two articles recently in the Fiji Times on duruka, or Saccharum edule. This is known as pitpit in PNG, where there are probably many more than the 2 varieties mentioned for Fiji. There are germplasm collections in Fiji (Naduruloulou Research Station, Ministry of Agriculture, Sugar and Land Resettlement) and PNG (NARI Wet Lowlands Islands Programme – Keravat, East New Britain Province; 15 accessions). The articles are reproduced below... Duruka a hit overseas (Saturday, March 19, 2005) THE locally-grown crop duruka (Saccharum edule) is gaining popularity overseas, says the manager of a local food canning company. "Last year the company exported 2000 cartons of canned duruka," said Food Processors Fiji Limited manager Dron Prasad. "This year the target is 6000 cartons. The company is willing to buy 80-100,000 bundles of duruka this year at the farm gate price of $2 a bundle and they will also provide the transport if the farmers can supply more than a thousand bundles of duruka." He said duruka was popular amongst locals residing overseas. The company packs duruka into brine-filled 400gram cans and exports them to Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America. Most of their duruka suppliers are from the Tailevu, Naitasiri, Korovou, Vunidawa and Namosi areas. Savenaca Tuivaga, a senior agriculture assistant at the Vunidawa office, said most of the farmers in the tikina of Waima planted duruka as a source of income. The farmers in the area will be harvesting duruka in a few weeks time, he said. They expect to harvest more than 800 bundles this year. Naqara Village in Naitasiri is another of the company's biggest suppliers. Last year the farmers supplied 7548 bundles of duruka valued at $15,096, a 4.8 per cent increase when compared to the previous year. The main season for duruka is from April to June. It takes about six to eight months for the plant to mature after planting. The plant belongs to the same family as sugarcane - the grass family, and is actually the flower of wild sugar cane. Local delicacy back in season (Monday, March 14, 2005) Duruka is in season once again with bundles selling at up to $6 in the markets and roadsides. The Ministry of Agriculture in a recent release stated that Duruka or Saccharum edule was gaining popularity in overseas markets very quickly. Local canning company Food Processors Fiji Limited packs duruka with brine in 400 grams can and exports to Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America. Production manager Dron Prasad said duruka was popular with local people overseas and last year the company exported 2000 cartons of duruka and expecting to pack 6,000 cartons this year. "The company is willing to buy 80 to 100,000 bundles of duruka this year at the farm gate price of $2 a bundle and will provide transport if the farmers can supply more than 1000 bundles.'' There are two varieties of duruka: Green local variety and Red local variety. The Red variety matures between December to January while the green variety that is canned season is usually ready between February to March with supplies coming in from Tailevu, Naitasiri, Korovou, Vunidawa and Namosi. Senior Agriculture Assistant at Vunidawa Savenaca Tuivaga said most of the farmers in Waima tikina planted duruka as a source of income. He said the farmers of Naqara Village were one of the biggest suppliers of duruka to Food Processors Fiji Limited. * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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