Down streaming of coconut encouraged in Solomons

SOLOMON STAR - National News
Wednesday, 28 January 2009

SOLOMON Islanders have been encouraged to engage in the coconut down stream processing as the country prepares to cease copra export next year.

The Commodities Export Marketing Authority’s (CEMA) Development and Extension Officer Alfred Ramo uttered the encouragement at the handing over of a manual coconut pressing machine to the Ontong Java Farmers Association, in Honiara, last week.

A local distributor, Set Marketing & Advertising Agency, provided the equipment to the association at the cost of $20,000. The equipment will allow farmers to extract pure virgin oil.

Mr Ramo told the association members that there would be no more copra exports as of next year.
He encouraged local farmers to venture into downstream processing of coconut product.

"One of the products is pure coconut virgin oil," he said.

Mr Ramo commended the association for its initiative to produce pure coconut oil over the years. It is a step in the right direction in preparation for the changes.

"This is a right move and a step into achieving what CEMA wants to see in the country as of next year," he said.
Throughout the world, he said, many countries have ventured into producing their own pure coconut oil.

If more rural farmers produce pure coconut oil, he said, the country would not import coconut oil overseas. In return, the farmers would earn money from the export and sales of their products.

The export of copra was halted because coconut mills in Europe, which usually buy copra from Solomon Islands, have closed down and concentrated on importing coconut oil.

Solomon Islands has no option but to be part of this world-wide undertaking. Solomon Islands will be processing copra to produce oil to attract higher prices.

The coconut oil production, he said, will also benefit exporters in terms of volume, freight and monetary returns. This process attracted higher returns compared to copra production.

Mr Ramo said the move is in line with CEMA's plans. CEMA had previously established six copra crashing mills throughout the country.

The mills were established in Tenaru on Guadalcanal, Gojoruru on Isabel, Kaonasughu on Makira, Malu'u on Malaita, Lata in Temotu Province, Tarakukure on Choiseul and Noro in the Western Province.

By MOFFAT MAMU