Construction of a new treatment facility to ensure the country export locally grown sweet pineapples to overseas market will commence towards the end of this year.
This came after the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) received its fumigation chamber, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) Franklyn Derek Wasi informed Parliament on Tuesday.
He was contributing to the Motion to thank His Excellency the Governor General for delivering the Speech from Throne.
“The ministry recently retrieved its fumigation chamber from the Solomon Ports and closely collaborating with Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the European Union (EU) office in Suva, Fiji for the construction of the holding facility for the fumigation chamber.”
Minister Wasi assured the House that construction work is possible with funding support from EU and SPC.
“We expect the construction work to commence in the third quarter of this year with funding from EU through SPC.”
He expressed confidence that once the facility is completed, Solomon Islands will start its pineapple export to the overseas market.
“Once completed, it will enable us to export fresh pineapples abroad with strong interest from Australia.”
He also highlighted that recently a team from South Korea visited Malaita in March this year along with MAL officers to explore the potential of the pineapple production in Malaita.
In Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal and Malaita are known for their sweet tasty pineapples.
