PRODUCING 20 METRIC TONES OF COCOA PER YEAR ACHIEVABLE

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Jimmy Saelea. Photo credit: SIBC.

The local cocoa industry’s target to produce 20 metric tonnes per annum appears achievable.

Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Jimmy Salea says the Cocoa and Chocolate week recently held in the capital has provided significant information that will help boost the cocoa industry.

Mr Salea says the National Government through his Ministry is committed to seeing an increase in the production and export of high quality smoke-free dried cocoa beans.

He says it is the Ministry’s target for the cocoa industry to produce 20 metric tonnes per annum.

Currently, Solomon Islands is only producing between 5,000 to 6,000 metric tonnes of cocoa in a given year.