Rural women farmers in Guadalcanal will benefit from a partnership allowing for market opportunities on their doorstep.
It has been reported that 44 cassava out-growers signed a partnership agreement with the Solomon Islands government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) and with Sape farm management on 17 July 2020.
Under the Sape farm out-growers scheme, farmers will sell all their cassava and potato produce to Sape farm pack-house under the out-growers scheme farm gate.
Women cassava and potato farmers see the partnership as a new opportunity as many have often struggled over several years to find markets for the produce.
Speaking about the partnership, Wendy Saki Besa’a said he saw the partnership deal an opportunity for women farmers.
Ms Saki Besa’a also thanked the SIG through MAL for recognizing Cassava root crop as an industry.
“Cassava does not require hard labour like cocoa and coconut industry does.
“We are optimistic that this partnership will really change our livelihood and transform our standard of living, she said.
The Permanent Secretary of MAL Ethel Tebengi Frances is also excited with the partnership initiative and has said she was looking forward to working closely with Sape Farm management and the out growers and farmers around the country to grow the root crop and guarantee it becomes recognized as an industry in accordance with MAL’s plans to revive the agriculture sector.
Source: MAL media and Solomon Times Online.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
