IN a bid to reduce capsicum imports and boost production in the country, the Agriculture Ministry released a new open-pollinated capsicum Golden Bell variety during the World Food Day celebrations in Sigatoka on Wednesday.
Agriculture Minister Inia Seruiratu said Fiji imported $1.6 million worth of capsicums last year, a significant increase from $0.5m imports in 2012.
He said imports would continue to increase unless Fiji took advantage of the opportunities brought in by increasing efforts to produce resilient crops such as the Golden Bell variety.
“Research and development will continue to play an important role in Government’s plan for the long-term sustainability and growth of the agriculture sector in Fiji,” he said.
“The search for higher quality, higher yielding varieties, pest and disease tolerance varieties and climate change resilient varieties will always be an ongoing process.”
