(Tetum)The Variety Approval, Release and Registration Committee of the National Seed Council met recently to review proposals for several varieties of different food crops deemed ready for release. After two days of deliberation and inspection of the different crops, the Committee agreed to recommend to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to name and release 7 new varieties of 4 different food crops.

Variety release committee visited Loes research station

(Variedade Foun)The 7 new varieties will add colour and wider choice to farmers in Timor-Leste. The proposed varieties include 2 sweet potato, 2 mung beans, 2 climbing beans and one rice variety.  The 2 sweet potato varieties are very colourful. One has a rich orange flesh and the other is a deep purple. Both varieties have great taste, with the orange variety crumbles nicely as it is eaten, making it perfect for breakfast with a cup of coffee.

All of the recommended varieties have gone through extensive testing on research stations for more than 5 years and have been grown with many farmers for 2 years or more.

They were assessed against a broad number of criteria, not only for superior yield and agronomic adaptability but also for their social, environment and gender impacts. The review and approval of the Committee is the 3^rd step in the process of crop identification and development which is one of the main components of the National Seed System for Released Varieties. Through this rigorous process, farmers are ensured of varieties with superior quality and suited to growing conditions in Timor-Leste.