Vanuatu: Researchers develop drought resistant crops in Vanuatu
Mr. Pakao Leo, an agricultural expert and Coordinator of the Vanuatu Coastal Adaptation Project (VCAP), has been working with fellow experts to create more durable and profitable varieties in this ever hotter area.
According to the Pacific Climate Change Science Program temperatures in Vanuatu’s annual maximum temperatures have increased at a rate of 0.17°C per decade in Port Vila.
Because of this experts from the Ministry of Agriculture in Vanuatu have been cross breeding over 50 varieties of sweet potato to see which will survive through prolonged droughts. “We have used sweet potatoes from the Solomon Islands, Fiji and other islands, along with Vanuatu varieties, to test which will be preferred by our farmers,” Leo said.
The cross breeding has led to successfully identifying preferred varieties by farmers which can survive drought conditions. “Once we successfully cultivate a certain variety, we bring the farmers in to taste and select which they prefer, then we distribute them to the farmers for their use,” Leo said.
Fuente: http://www.freshplaza.com/article/173219/Researchers-develop-drought-resistant-crops-in-Vanuatu
