A call for technical assistance that could lead to better farming methods, crop yields and exports is deserving and worthy of SIG support
Writing a piece in the Island Sun newspaper this weekend, Samie Waikori a staff journalist, said farmers in Malaita Province were calling on the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) to look into setting-up programmes to assist them in their activities.
The article, from which I quote extracts, said:
Farmers look to MAL for technical assistance to lead them towards prosperous farming.
In Malaita farmers are capable as they had proven themselves by going into commercial farming activities, but they very much needed support.
There are a lot of kava farmers, coffee, cocoa, coconut and other commercial crop producers in the province but the farmers (growing such crops) have been struggling with their activities for a long time.
Farmers want a programme that will encourage them by visits, on a regular basis, for capacity assistance and even finance if possible to boost their activities.
At a time when export commodity crops such as kava, vanilla, ginger, cassava even orchids, are increasingly in demand and are expected to rise even further, the reported call by farmers in Malaita for more technical assistance is well understood and it is to be hoped the MAL will respond positively by aiding the farmers with regular hands on technical help and perhaps with financial aid to boost livelihoods and the economy.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
