THE Department of Agriculture has set aside funding for the revitalisation program of traditional root crops.
Principal northern agricultural officer John Cox said the program was aimed at increasing the production of traditional root crops.
"These root crops include yams or uvi, kawai and tivoli. These are traditional root crops that our forefathers valued and planted a lot of and that trend has somehow changed.
"More people are concentrating so much on cassava and dalo. These crops are not hurricane resistant and easily get damaged when a cyclone hits.
"But compared to traditional crops, these are hurricane-resistant crops and last longer even after hurricanes compared to the other two cash crops." Mr Cox said the program was welcomed by the three provinces of Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata.
He said the program would include provision of planting material to the community.
"We will provide technical support for the farming program and the planting material as well," he added.