MAKIRA BANANA FARMERS ASSISTANCE ONE-NOTCH UP.

A banana variety in Makira Ulawa Province. Photo credit: dialogues.cgiar.org

The Makira Ulawa Provincial Government is one notch up in its effort to assist banana farmers to meet local and export demands.

Provincial Premier Stanley Siapu discloses, his government has cut out an agreed budget allocation to assist banana farmers to be administered by the Makira Banana Growers Association.

Mr. Siapu says, the province has received overwhelming support from the National Government to pursue banana processing initiative within the province.

“Our National Government is trying to help by supporting farmers and communities to involve in farming this crop as we know that it is quite a popular crop here in the province.”

Mr. Siapu says, his government and the Ministry of Commerce are combining efforts to identify a possible site on Makira for a processing plant.