Representatives from the New Zealand's Ministry of Primary Industries (NZMPI) are in the country to hold bilateral talks following the recent suspension of eggplant exports to New Zealand which had just been lifted earlier this week.
The temporary suspension was applied earlier this year after the NZMPI found eggs, live larvae and adult insects on a consignment of exported heat-treated fruit.
A government media release, issued this week, said the NZMPI team and Biosecurity Authority of Fiji officials recently visited the Ministry of Agriculture's Koronivia Research Station to inspect the protein bait machine and the high temperature forced Air experimental unit.
NZMPI's chief technical officer Dr Stephen Butcher said: "The main purpose of our visit is to actually see what the Ministry of Agriculture's research division has to offer that will give us the confidence to make decisions on the export pathway."
Dr Butcher said he was impressed with the research projects undertaken at the research facilities in Koronivia.
The plant protection staff of the ministry briefed the visiting delegation on the various research activities that were being undertaken under the management of pest project in Fiji and the overall research work that is carried out at the various research stations around Fiji.
Ministry's director research Dr Apaitia Macanawai said the aim now was to ensure that both the high temperature forced air unit and the protein bait machine were up and running so that research trials on the potential export of fruits and vegetables could be carried out.
source: fijitimes.com
