A decline in the yield of local type of potato in Solomon Islands has forced a farming institute to introduce a clean variety to indigenous commercial farmers.
The SIBC reports the program being launched today in East Guadalcanal is coordinated by the Farmers Field School.
The Local Coordinator, Lawrence Atu, says agricultural research done on local kumara has indicated that a virus had caused the decline in potato yield throughout the country and says they hope to send out the clean variety cuttings of the potato to farmers in other provinces.
The program is funded by the Australian Centre for Agricultural Research and the International Potato Centre.
