KOPU ON PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT IN AGRICULTURE

Hon. Duddley Kopu, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock and MP for Temotu Nende. Photo credit: GCU.

Private sector investment in agriculture requires having in place an environment that is conducive.

Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Duddley Kopu made the statement in parliament today.

Responding to a question on his Ministry’s 2015 budget spending to improve private sector investment, Mr Kopu said creating a conducive environment includes strategic policy planing and land security.

He adds innovative research is another way forward to increase private sector investment in agriculture.

“Innovative research in the cocoa industry is very encouraging where the Pacific Action research team has been involved in the capacity training of farmers in provinces in regard of integrated pest and disease management as well as clonal rehabilitation of cocoa trees. Under the cocoa tree genetic planting material programme, this is ongoing. New investment in the sector can adopt these technologies.”