“VALUE-ADDING is the way forward, thereby processing of virgin coconut oil, and copra oil has been the main areas that the programme has been assisting the industry with.”

This is according to the summary of the Democratic Coalition for Change Government policy achievements of the productive and resource sector provided to Island Sun by the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC).

The summary states that under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, collaboration has been done with the private sector to promote coconut oil with Solomon Tropical Products Ltd and virgin coconut oil through award winning Kokonut Pacific (SI) Ltd) production.

“In this instance, market linkages to producer communities are working well.

The productive and resource sector policy achievements of the current government states that institutions such as rural training centres have also installed coconut oil processing machines and are producing virgin coconut oil as well.

There are also Fixed services grants to farmers for tools, equipment, trading, and rehabilitation replanting through the Ministry responsible.

Replanting of senile coconut plantations is however, critical to rejuvenate the coconut industry and the realization of value-adding and down-stream processing is the way forward to get maximum benefit from our coconut sector.

The Democratic Coalition for Change Government provided Island Sun with this document outlining policy achievements over a span of two years.