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By Alex Lennane
A new hot water treatment process has achieved notable results in reducing diseases in papaya fruit, according to the Fiji Papaya Project, based in Nadi, Fiji. The tests, conducted at crop treatment plant Nature’s Way Co-operative, could have significant implication for the island’s papaya exports. A newly built unit is expected to cost about $18,000 and have the capacity treat up to 400kg of fruit simultaneously.