…..Bright prospects for timber producers in 2017

 

THE Ministry of Forestry and Research will continue its Downstream Processing and Timber Utilisation programme next year in effort to promote resource owners’ participation in timber milling export activities.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Forestry and Research, Mr Vaeno Vigulu, said the programme is looking at adding value to the forest product so that resource owners can generate more income.

He said the Ministry has been supporting resource owners with Lucas-mill machines and chainsaws over the years but one of the biggest problem faced by resource owners is the lack of venues or yards to store their timbers and also prepare timber to meet criteria of export markets.

“In respond to this need, the ministry has secured a land space and yard to assist resource owners with timber milling and export activities here in Honiara,” Mr Vigulu said.

He said the Ministry has took a leading role in the establishment of an organisation called Valued Timber Association (VATA) to manage the programmes so that the Ministry is free to do other important programmes.

Mr Vigulu explained that VATA is the focal point of all resource owners to export their timbers and that the yard is located at Henderson.

He said VATA timber yard had recently received a state-of-the-art Solar Timber Dryer from PHAMA that would assist resource owners export quality timbers to overseas markets.

Mr Vigulu adds that the Ministry also helps to establish the Solomon Islands Timber Processing and Export Association as the representative of resource owners in the export market.

In the meantime, he said the Ministry is planning to establish a similar timber yard in Noro Western province next year as part of the Ministry’s 2017 work plan.

Mr Vigulu said Noro is one of the country’s international standard seaport and that it is suitable for such establishment.

He explained that there are lots of timber products from Choiseul, Western and Isabel province and that the yard at Noro will be able to accommodate as selling point for the resource owners of these provinces while the timber yard in Honiara will provide service for Honiara, Malaita, Guadalcanal, Makira and other provinces.

Mr Vigulu said the Ministry has seen some positive achievement under the programme, however availability of land is still a problem.