The restructures that have occurred within the coconut industry is a result of the Governments push to ensure maximum returns to the economy says Permanent Secretary for Agriculture Colonel Mason Smith.
Col. Smith said since April this year, when government decided to abolish the Coconut Industry Development Authority CIDA), the Coconut Research and Extension division has been absorbed into the Department of Agriculture in Raiwaqa and the Copra Millers Fiji now transferred to the Ministry of Finance.
“As a result the extension services will be transferred to the Wainigata Research Station in Savusavu while the research division will be transferred to the Taveuni Coconut Centre in Mua,” Colonel Smith said.
“There will be some staff transfers in December to cater for these restructures. In addition we need to upgrade the laboratory in Mua to cater for the two coconut pests, the rhinoceros beetle and the stick insect,” Colonel Smith said.
The laboratory at Mua will also cater for soil tests to improve the Dalo industry.
Col Smith also plans of building a whole nut processing facility in Wainigata and Mua, where youths can be trained on how to produce virgin coconut oils, activated carbon, the use of magimagi and other coconut products.