RRR Investments Farmers Association earns over 50k in first shipment of copra

RRR Investments Farmers Association in Ulawa Island sold its first shipments of Copra last month, earning over $50,000.

The association is one of the Agri-Business Producer Organizations (ABPO) in Makira- Ulawa Province, which received funding from the World Bank funded Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation ( SIART) Project to carry out Copra Buying.

Speaking to SIBC News, Chairman John Sulumauri said it is a huge achievement for the organization as it addresses the challenges faced by farmers in the region.

” Buying copra is the second activity that we are currently implementing. We sold our first shipment, a total of 66 bags last month where we earned around $50,000. This is a huge achievement for us.”

” Before the partnership with SIART, selling such amount of copra would be difficult given the challenges we have with transportation,” he said.

Earlier last month, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock released cash grant funding of more than $300,000 to twenty-eight Agri-Business Producer Organizations in Guadalcanal, Malaita and Makira-Ulawa Province.

Each ABPOs were funded with a total grant of over $10,000.

These cash grants are to be utilized by ABPOs’ for administration and logistic activities, transport hire and freight, training, labour cost, construction of driers and other minor operational costs.

Mr. Sulumauri said they are currently implementing key activities which includes rehabilitation of coconuts, copra buying and construction of air-dryers through the cash grants received.

He said plans are in place to increase the number of bags of copra to be sold in Honiara.

” For our second shipment, we have collected around 80 bags of copra already. We are planning to collect up to 200 bags before bringing them to Honiara to sell,” he said.

SIBC News understands that the SIART Project aims to improve agricultural production and market access, focusing on selected value chains.

The provision of cash grants enables ABPOs’ to acquire resources to enhance their operations, such as improving processing methods, increasing production, and accessing new markets.

ENDS//