16 April 2022
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock recently outlined key projects to be implemented this year which would enable the country to start exporting local products overseas.
The Permanent Secretary of MAL Ethel Frances told the Public Accounts Committee this during their hearing on April 8th 2022.
“We have a number of bigger projects that we will seek to continue implementing this year to enable us to start exporting overseas,” Ms Frances said.
She said “One of our key projects are the pack house facilities, we want to really ensure that we start exporting cassava as we were not able to complete it last year.
She said the second bigger project is at Tenaru where they want to relocate their research centre from King George.
“All the work has started last year and we aim to complete it this year, some of that we were not able to implement last year.”
She said the ministry also wishes to continue with a chicken slaughter house and packaging to reduce the import of chicken.
“The other one is vapour heat treatment facility that will allow the country to treat fruits and vegetables to enable us to do exporting.
“We were not able to complete that despite having brought the machine already.
“We were hoping that this year we will be able to complete that so we can export that kind of farm produce overseas.
“There are also other small supports but these are our big projects and where we will seek to continue implement this year,” she said
Source. Island Sun newspaper
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
