Kuma backs rural reset as new CEMA CEO Colin Yow leads reform drive
The Minister for Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration, Hon. Harry Kuma, has announced a firm “Farmers First” reform push to reset the rural economy, saying Solomon Islands cannot build national prosperity while the rural majority continues to miss out.
With around 74 per cent of Solomon Islanders living in rural areas, Minister Kuma said the reform agenda is about restoring dignity, fairness and opportunity to rural families, and ensuring the nation’s commodity wealth delivers real benefits where it is produced.
“This is about putting farmers back where they belong — at the centre of our economic future,” Minister Kuma said. “For too long, rural people have carried the country, yet too often they’ve been left behind.”
Minister Kuma confirmed the reforms will be led by the newly appointed CEMA Chief Executive Officer, Mr Colin Yow, who has been tasked to drive a practical, delivery-focused programme starting immediately.
The initial focus will be on strengthening market confidence for rural producers by ensuring farmers have a reliable pathway to sell their crops, receive fair and transparent pricing, and know their produce will be purchased when it is ready.
“No farmer should be left guessing whether their crop will be bought,” Minister Kuma said. “Even one sack of copra or a small quantity of cocoa should have a dependable market.”
The first phase will concentrate on copra and cocoa, commodities deeply tied to rural livelihoods. Minister Kuma said copra, in particular, has long supported household income in villages and helped families pay school fees, and that stability must return.
He added the reforms will go beyond raw commodity buying. The GNUT Government’s direction is for CEMA to progress into value-added processing over time, so Solomon Islands exports more finished goods, creates jobs locally, strengthens supply chains, and lifts rural incomes.
“This is not a talk-shop reform,” Minister Kuma said.
“This is delivery. Mr Yow will lead it, and CEMA will be held to results.”
