Under the provisions of local legislation CEMA is tasked with regulating commodities under its regulator function, its activities includes; the inspection, grading and certification of the Agricultural products for the purpose of exports, and is governed by a board of directors that is responsible to the Accountable Ministers, being the Minister for Finance and Minister for Commerce, Industries Labour and Immigration.
CEMA to maximise resource owners (farmer/trader/exporters) income is obligated to providing an effective and efficient regulatory service that enable exporters meet minimum market standard for their export products and by provide a significant focus on improving in country analytical assessment as quality assurance measures towards higher value market.
That said, I have been puzzled by recent reports, which I have written about, in which certain importers in Australia have expressed a need for such crops as cassava but not getting supplies from local farmers growing cassava due, it has been mentioned, finding markets has proved difficult.
Why is this the case? Is it because crops grown in the Solomon Islands do not yet meet the requisite trade standards for exports offshore to countries such as Australia, New Zealand and further afield?
My concern over the issue was heightened when it was recently announced new office space was being created at the National Public Health Laboratory where laboratory technicians would be working to carry out proper testing and analysis of targeted agriculture products to attain ISO certification and accreditation mainly in the micro-biology area.
In the past I knew that locally grown kava could not be easily exported to Australia but then Australia relaxed its rules on kava imports and maybe export of kava from Solomon Islands has gone better since.
I recall, too Samoa, in the past had some exporting issues with banana crops being exported to New Zealand over, presumably over ISO certification and biology concerns.
Comment.
The Solomon Islands is keen to export its cassava crops, taro, noni fruit and other agricultural crops and fruit, possibly pineapples but are exports going to be dependent on the laboratory technicians certifying locally grown produce meet offshore import standards, which I have the impression is the case just now?
Perhaps CEMA can answer my concerns, please.
One last thought is that I believe CEMA it its mandate should give more attention to providing information on the nutritional and health benefits of SI produce and products, especially mentioning the many health benefits derived from pineapples.
