The Ministry of Agriculture has renovated its Agricultural office on Koro Island in the Lomaiviti Group as part of efforts to improve service delivery to farmers on the island.
The Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development permanent secretary, Mr Filipe Alifereti who led the team of government officials on a tour of the Lomaiviti Group, recently opened the renovated office.
“I am glad to be part of this great achievement and hope that our staff will elevate the assistance rendered to the people of this island,” said Mr Alifereti.
“This year Government has estimated an increase of 5.2 percent in crop production for the country till December 2013 with the island of Koro known as one of the major contributors of dalo and yaqona.”
“I encourage our farmers to use the vacant land on export commodities such as dalo, yaqona, ginger, uvi, and tavioka so that we can increase exports and reduce import by year 2015,” said Mr Alifereti.
The delegation included the Permanent Secretary for Fisheries and Forest Mr Inoke Wainiqolo, Permanent Secretary for Youth and Sports Mr Josefa Sania, Commissioner Eastern Mr Netani Rika, Commissioner Central Mr Laisenia Tuitubou, Deputy Secretary for Agriculture Development Mr Uraia Waibuta and Ministry officials also visited the Bio-Fuel project on the island as part of the tour program and discussed with villagers and farming groups on areas that required assistance and improvements.
Mr Alifereti expressed gratitude to the farmers of the Tikina of Cawa and Mudu for all their hard work and contribution to sustain the overseas markets. He also thanked the Ministry for Agriculture and the Department of Fisheries and Forests for all the development carried out on the Island.
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