Farmers who intend to plant duruka (Fiji asparagus) within the cane belt areas should plant the variety which is resistant to the Fiji leaf gall disease.

This after the Sugar research Institute of Fiji, during their field day in Sigatoka found this disease in Cuvu.

Institutes acting Chief Executive Prem Naidu says the duruka plant is considered to be the host plant for this disease as it spreads from duruka plants to other cane varieties.

“This particular place where we found the disease, next to this field was the daruka plantation. We suspect that this disease was spread from this daruka plantation.”

Naidu says they have a group of workers who are from the crop protection department out to visit cane belt areas and inspect for the disease.

He says, once they find the infected plant they dig it out and destroy the plant.