PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 3:50 PM by Luigi

Traditional vegetables in Fiji

Fiji Times, Tuesday, July 04, 2006

The Ministry of Agriculture has an ongoing program of reviving traditional vegetable production so that the public is aware of their cost effectiveness and richness in nutritive value.

People for a number of years have been relying on the forest to provide constant supply of ota for their daily use.

However, due to the increase in logging and uncontrolled fires, it has become necessary to cultivate ota not only to ensure constant supply but to also preserve this plant biodiversity from extinction. After years of research work, the ministry's research division has come up with a technology whereby ota (Athyrium esculenta) can be grown in backyard gardens.

Senior research officer (Horticulture), Shalendra Prasad said that the idea was initiated in 2003.
"After serious discussions we decided to test it out so we brought the planting materials from Namosi and did our own planting in our demo plot at the station in Nacocolevu in Sigatoka," he said.

"We pulled out the shoots from the mother plant, trimmed them then just planted them on the ground. Since Sigatoka is within the intermediate zone, we put sarlon clothe over the plants to protect them from the glare of the sun," he explained.

"In order to keep the plants moist, we spread sawdust over the soil."

"With minimum agronomic practices and less cost of production, ota is an ideal crop for farmers as well as people living in the urban areas," said Mr Prasad.

"A lot of consumers have been relying on exotic vegetables that are sold in markets and stores around the country in spite of the existence of traditional vegetables like bele, rourou and ota," said Mr Prasad.

"These traditional vegetables were widely used by our forefathers and are more nutritious than most of the exotic vegetables." This technology will assist the urban dwellers to establish plots in their backyards for regular supply of green healthy vegetables.



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DIVA-GIS	Tuesday, July 04, 2006 Posted 3:50 PM by Luigi Traditional vegetables in Fiji Fiji Times, Tuesday, July 04, 2006 The Ministry of Agriculture has an ongoing program of reviving traditional vegetable production so that the public is aware of their cost effectiveness and richness in nutritive value. People for a number of years have been relying on the forest to provide constant supply of ota for their daily use. However, due to the increase in logging and uncontrolled fires, it has become necessary to cultivate ota not only to ensure constant supply but to also preserve this plant biodiversity from extinction. After years of research work, the ministry's research division has come up with a technology whereby ota (Athyrium esculenta) can be grown in backyard gardens. Senior research officer (Horticulture), Shalendra Prasad said that the idea was initiated in 2003. "After serious discussions we decided to test it out so we brought the planting materials from Namosi and did our own planting in our demo plot at the station in Nacocolevu in Sigatoka," he said. "We pulled out the shoots from the mother plant, trimmed them then just planted them on the ground. Since Sigatoka is within the intermediate zone, we put sarlon clothe over the plants to protect them from the glare of the sun," he explained. "In order to keep the plants moist, we spread sawdust over the soil." "With minimum agronomic practices and less cost of production, ota is an ideal crop for farmers as well as people living in the urban areas," said Mr Prasad. "A lot of consumers have been relying on exotic vegetables that are sold in markets and stores around the country in spite of the existence of traditional vegetables like bele, rourou and ota," said Mr Prasad. "These traditional vegetables were widely used by our forefathers and are more nutritious than most of the exotic vegetables." This technology will assist the urban dwellers to establish plots in their backyards for regular supply of green healthy vegetables. * 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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