Good news for Solomon Islands Solar-dried cocoa exports
Dear Editor,
MR. Patterson Siliota, the Chief Inspecting Officer of the Solomon Islands Commodities Export Market Authority (CEMA), has confirmed that total exports of cocoa beans to the premium chocolate market for 2017 so far stands at 24 metric tonnes (worth over SBD600,000) compared with less than 2 metric tonnes exported in previous years.
“This is a significant increase since Solomon Islands only began exporting cocoa to the boutique market in 2013. It also shows that international interest in the Solomon Islands cocoa is growing rapidly” has said Mr. Siliota.
He also said that, there has been an increase in contracts between farmers, processors and exporters, and premium chocolate makers.
The Australian and New Zealand governments, through the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (PHAMA) Program), have been supporting local farmers to further develop the premium solar-dried cocoa export market.
It is believed the local cocoa industry has the potential to export 200 metric tonnes of premium cocoa by 2019.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
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