Solomon Islands will soon be able to meet international market standard requirements for the export of agricultural products.
This is being made possible after a complex worth SBD$7 million was built and completed to house a vapor heat treatment plant. It is located at the MAL Biosecurity area close to Henderson International Airport, East Honiara.
The building is fully funded by SIG through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) and Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID).
The structure has been completed with only minor fittings before actual installation work on the VHT plant is done.
The vapor heat treatment plant was purchased in 2022 and is already in Honiara.
Installation work is expected to commence in November this year by experts from the manufacturing company in Japan.
After installation work is done, pretrial and testing of optimum operating conditions will be conducted and technical officers from MAL will initially operate the plant to conduct trials on fruits and vegetables earmarked for export.
The treatment facility will be the first of its kind in the country and the region that will be used to treat local agriculture produces to meet international standard for phytosanitary measures for the treatment of four economic species of fruit flies that are present in Solomon Islands and meet the requirements to export to any international market.
Minister for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) Franklyn Derek Wasi on Thursday toured the facility and was very pleased with the progress so far.
“I am very happy to be here visiting this important historical investment of the national government for our agriculture sector to boost the growth of our national economy.”
“The operation of this treatment facility will enable us to meet international market requirement standards for fruits and vegetables, particularly those that are susceptible to fruit flies,” Minister Wasi said.
Minister Wasi said, he will ensure the facility is completed and the vapor heat treatment is operational in the next few months.
“Export of papaya and mango will now become a reality for our farmers once the facility comes into full operations,” he added.
– MAL Media
