THE livelihoods of Nadarivatu farmers has been significantly boosted by the Ministry of Agriculture.
This is after the Ministry secured markets for farmers Red Pontiac potatoes and also incepting a new Farmers Trust scheme.
Minister for Agriculture, Dr Mahendra Reddy in a statement confirmed that nearly 7000 kilograms of the new potato variety has been harvested and being purchased by the Agricultural Marketing Authority at a guaranteed price of $1.50 per kilogram.
The Farmers Trust deducts 15 percent from crop sales by farmers, to go towards their own preparations for new planting seasons.
“These are models of farmers for remote interiors and we are encouraging exporters to also open trust accounts for farmers that supply them, as long as we see that deducted percentages are going back to the farmers,” said Dr Reddy.
Markets for the new potato variety include Australia, with strong interest also registered in Indonesia.
