Besi Youth Association (BYA) has signed a partnership agreement with leading taro buyer Goshen Enterprise in Auki, Malaita on Monday.
The partnership marks a major step forward for the taro industry in Malaita Province, linking a youth-led farming group with an established taro processing company.
Goshen Enterprise director Livet Maesimae said, the agreement formalises a supply-and-market relationship between the two parties.
He said the association, based in North Malaita, will supply fresh taro and labour, while Goshen Enterprise will provide processing services and access to markets.
Mr Maesimae said lack of transport and access to buyers has been a major challenge for youth farmers in Besi.
“For the youths of Besi, the biggest hurdle has often been transported and finding buyers. This agreement guarantees that their harvests have a dedicated destination at the Adaliua Taro Packhouse,” he said.
He said the partnership will help transform subsistence farming into a commercial venture, providing stable income opportunities for young people in ward seven and surrounding areas.
Mr Maesimae said the Adaliua Taro Packhouse has recently been equipped with industrial-grade washers, cutters and sealers, allowing raw taro to be processed into frozen products.
He said with support from Australia through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Solomon Islands Government, Goshen Enterprise is working towards Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) compliance.
“This is the gold standard required for exporting taro to international markets such as Australia and New Zealand,” Mr Maesimae said.
By SOLOMON LOFANA
Solomon Star, Auki
Photo caption: Goshen Enterprise director Livet Maesimae right, with a representative of Besi Youth Association pose with agreement document after their signing on Monday.
