Prime Minister (PM) Jeremiah Manele last week visited the Adailiua Taro Pack House in Malaita offering a glimmer of hope for taro farmers in the province.
Because once the taro-buying and storage facility opens it provide a secured market for their taro commodities.
PM Manele visited the facility located near Auki, when he was in the Malaita Provincial Capital for the 41stSecond Appointed Day Anniversary of Malaita Province.
The $1.5 million facility was officially handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in April 2023 by PM Manele when he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade under the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) led by Manasseh Sogavare.
Since the handover, there was very little progress in getting the facility operational, causing frustration amongst farmers who hoped to benefit from the project soon after its completion.
Taro farmers have since repeatedly called on the government and stakeholders to ensure its operation.
It was anticipated that Goshen Enterprise, a local taro buyer in the province, will assist MAL with theoperation of the Taro Pack House but nothing has progressed since the handover.
Taro farmer Fabiano Ngengemani was delighted to learn that PM Manele visited the Taro Pack Housewhen in Auki for the Malaita Day celebration, a project he himself handed over to MAL.
Mr Ngengemani expressed hope that the facility would soon begin buying taro to be processed and packaged for exportation.
“I am hoping to see the Taro Pack House start operating following the Prime Minister’s visit.”
Meanwhile, PM Manele, in his speech at the celebration, emphasized that his government’s priority socio-economic development.
He also announced plans for a new two-story office complex for MAL to be built in Auki and highlighted the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between MAL and China’s Jiangsu Academy of Agriculture to enhance farming and cultivate high-value crops in Malaita.
Levite Maesimae, a representative from Goshen Enterprise, expressed gratitude to the national government for its support toward the Taro Pack House and PM Manele for visiting the facility last week and his expressed commitment to ensure the economic development of Malaita Province.
By SOLOMON LOFANA
Solomon Star, Auki
