TARO farmers in Malaita Province have started to benefit from the establishment and partnership of Goshen Enterprise Limited- a locally own company that currently venturing in taro industry in Malaita province.
This week the company has received first supply of taro harvest from Abaihara organic taro farmers association in North Malaita.
The first supply arrived was recorded at a weight of around 300 kg.The company buys taro at around $6 to 10 per kilogram.
This is welcoming news for taro farmers and consumers in Malaita and the country as a whole.
Speaking to Solomon Star Goshen Enterprise Ltd representative Levite Maesimae proudly said the company is starting to buy taro from their members this week.
A total 24 taro member associations (out growers) have been established and team up with Goshen Company.
Abaihara association is the first to supply its product to Goshen.
He said the company is expecting to receive more supply in the coming weeks and early next month from it’s out grower members.
Maesimae said the expectation quantity of supply from farmers for the period of two month is around 200,000 kg which equivalent to 2 containers.
“We expected to receive around 200,000 kg of taro stock from our farmer’s members for the month December and January,” Mr Maesimae said.
He encourages farmers in Malaita to continue plant more as market is now ready and they are starting to buy taro from the farmer members in the province.
However, he calls on stakeholders to continue support and invest in taro industry as it now progressing well in the province.
Goshen Ltd is one of recipients of Enhancing Capacity for Agriculture Trade project supporting Taro industry in the country.
He said at this stage the company is focusing at domestic market as it expected to expand into international market once things return to normal.
Abaihara association coordinator Timson Talua said farmers need capacity training from responsible government ministry and organization to improve their daily business activity at their farm.
He added that it is important for the government through the Parliament Members to support the association in areas of tools and logistic.
By SOLOMON LOFANA
Auki News Bureau
