By RODRICK DESURI
Auki
The Alisuri Sustainable Livelihood Association (ASLA) in Malaita Province, which owns and operates a cocoa and copra shed in Auki, will send its team to Laribaolo in East Kwara’ae to conduct training for rural cocoa and coconut farmers in the area.
In an interview, Elton Etega, the manager of ASLA, said that the plan is to provide training for farmers is to help and support them in acquiring essential knowledge on how to manage their farms to yield quality fruits.
“So, the main aim is to provide essential training for our rural farmers to equip them with vital knowledge of rehabilitation, drafting, and pruning,” he said.
He said that quality fruits can determine good prices in the market.
He said that they have conducted such training in a few communities.
He also said that the challenges they have faced include scarce resources.
“Like spades, knives, shovels, wheelbarrows, and other essential equipment,” he said.
Egeta appeals to the government to shift their focus to cocoa and coconut farmers, as these are the two commodities that the country depends on the most.
He said that supporting the rural farmers who continue to hold on to these two backbone commodities, cocoa and coconut, can positively impact the country’s economy.
“These two commodities, cocoa and coconut, are the only ones that led us to our independence way back, so the government should focus on them and prioritise the rural farmers who are still committed to them,” he said.
Island Sun understands that the prices for cocoa and copra have fluctuated and dropped since the beginning of April this year, which has impacted many rural farmers in the country.
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