Local cocoa and copra farmers in Ward 16, East Kwara’ae Constituency, Malaita Province, received essential materials this week from their Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA), Honorable Preston Billy Farobo. 

The assistance, which included empty drums and nets, aims to support farmers in building sheds for drying cocoa and copra, which is vital to maintaining product quality and enhancing productivity in the region.

Mr. Farobo, who manages the CEMA Adakoa buying center, has been actively purchasing cocoa and copra from his constituents, offering competitive rates of SBD $42 per kilogram for cocoa and SBD $3 per kilogram for copra.

During a short ceremony, he expressed his happiness in assisting his people and highlighted the importance of supporting local agriculture to strengthen the province’s economy. 

“I am pleased to help, and I thank the Solomon Islands Government through the Commodities Export and Marketing Authority (CEMA) for its revitalization program that makes initiatives like these possible,” he said. 

Mr. Farobo recently distributed over 30 empty drums and nets to around 16 farmers in his ward, to help them improve their storage and processing capabilities. This is just the beginning of his initiative, as he plans to deliver an additional 120 drums and nets in the coming weeks to ensure that all copra and cocoa farmers in the ward are fully equipped. 

His support aims to boost agricultural productivity, enhance product quality, and provide farmers with the resources needed to manage their yields more effectively.

Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Mr. John Kuru, a cocoa farmer in Ward 16, thanked Mr Farobo for the much-needed support. “This is exactly the kind of help that people in rural areas need,” Mr. Kuru remarked. 

“Support like this means we don’t have to constantly turn to government members for handouts—we can rely on our own efforts. The money is already here in our hard work; we just need the means to make it happen.”

The CEMA revitalization strategy (2021-2027) is a seven-year plan to strengthen Solomon Islands’ agricultural sector, specifically focusing on cocoa and coconut production, marketing, and exports. 

Key components of the strategy include upgrading storage warehouses and laboratories, expanding buying centers across provinces to improve market access, and increasing the international visibility of local commodities.