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Fresh cassava export set

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Frozen Yellow cassava and grated packages

BY CHARLES KADAMANA

A community based leading exporter Varivao Holdings Limited is set to export 14.480Metric tons of frozen yellow cassava worth more than SBD $110,000 to Melbourne Australia.

The consignment of yellow cassava has been scheduled to be shipped to Australia yesterday or today.

General Manager of Varivao Holdings Limited, Mr Benjamin Hageria confirmed the 14Mtons container consists of 14.02Mtons of not grated frozen yellow cassava and 460kg grated cassava.

He said the refreeze container has been loaded with frozen yellow cassava with the accepted temperature as required by the Australia Biosecurity standard requirements and already at the Port care ready for shipment to Australia.


Hageria explains that only cassava from Guadalcanal plain and forest land zone are eligible to export to over sea market at the moment due to restriction on cyanide concentration, processing restriction and access of shipment to over sea market.


He also wants to inform all cassava farmers in Guadalcanal that the buyer and distributer in Melbourne Australia only accepted yellow cassava for a while until further advises from the buyer in Melbourne Australia.

He said the best supply of quality yellow cassava to Varivao Holdings processing factory at Ranadi are Sapefarm at G.I.P.O.L-1 and Kakake/Sopapera farm at Fox wood area.


He said they are expecting to process one or two containers of yellow cassava June next month.

He said the demand for yellow cassava in the overseas market is very high because of the better quality compared to Fiji yellow cassava and other pacific countries.

He said at this stage they are focusing to export 3-4 containers a month throughout the years.


He said once they able to export 3 containers from July to December this year it will bring a total value of $SBD681,323.23 that will contribute to the economy of the country.

He encourages all cassava farmers that have large plot or hectors of yellow cassava to come forward to Varivao Holdings head office at Ranadi to registered their name and their yellow cassava farm with further advises during processing.

He acknowledges Dr Paulson Popora the Managing Director of Sapefarm with his hard-working staffs and Mr Ben Pogula of Kakake/Sopapera Outgrower and family for supplying quality yellow cassava for export to Varivao Holdings.


He also extends his appreciation to Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) and National Implementing Unit (NIU) from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade and Ministry of Finance and treasury for quickly releasing the allocated funds.

 “My company quickly boost the processing of the products at the processing factory at Ranadi.



Mr Ben Pogula of Kakake/Sopapera yellow cassava out grower received the total amount of $8,876.62 from his family cassava farm at Fox wood from the Company Assist Account Mrs Mary.


“I would like to thank the Director Extension of Agriculture and Ministry of Agriculture & Livestocks and its Department to work collaboratively with Sapefarm and my company had fully completely on harvested the farm and finally completed the container with the Kakake/Sopapera farm.


He said Varivao Holdings Limited is looking forward to export 3 to 4 containers per Months of frozen yellow cassava to over sea International Market if the allocated Ministries and National Solomon Island Government quickly addresses the Cooling room for Varivao Holdings and Sapefarm.


He said the exporting of one container at a time is very expensive and not really meet the required profit margin also to meet lots of operational cost.

He said the only way forward to make profit margin is to export more that 3 to 4 Containers per Month.

“So, I would like to urge the National Solomon Island Government to quickly look on these very quickly.

Mr Hageria also confirmed that the exporting of yellow cassava would extend to Kiribati, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney and also to promote our local frozen goods and target for South Pacific Games in 2023.

He said the immediate need of the company is to have its own cooling room or the blast as promised by the Ministry.

The export of yellow cassava amidst the Coronavirus pandemic was made possible through the support of the Ministry of Foreign and External Trade under the Enhance Integrated Framework.




14Mtons, filled of frozen yellow cassava was off loaded to the ports 7 Friday last week’s ready for shipped this week.

Enhance Integrated Framework is a multi-donor programme which supports Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in their effort of promoting economic growth and sustainable development by addressing their trade and trade-related constrains in order to build their capacity to trade and take advantage of global trade.

Forestry’s 2021 redirection priority highlighted

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Participants at the 7th Forest Sector Technical Working Group one day meeting held at Heritage Park, Honiara.​

Forestry Sector’s 2021 redirection priority policies under the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) has been shared with partner donors, stakeholders and friends of forest at a one-day meeting, the 7th Forestry Sector Technical Working Group (FSTWG) meeting in Honiara.

FSTWG is a platform for reporting of various forest stakeholders’, donor partners and friends of forest activities simultaneously executed through single and various collaborations.

It also presents another opportunity to strengthen collaborations with broader base applications of the principle of sustainable management of forest resources across the country through various undertakings.

 Thanks to the Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA) Sustainable Forest Resource Management (SFRM) Project with the Ministry of Forestry and Research for creating such avenue and progressively enabling the flatform through continuous financial support.

Forestry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Vaeno Vigulu says despite of the downside of COVID 19 that the country is currently facing with health risk, the government had to put in place measures to combat it but also needs to keep our economy afloat at the same time.

 In that regard, the Ministry of Forestry and Research (MoFR) has two mandated redirection policies, he says.

“The redirection priority policies of DCGA for 2021 encompassed promotion of downstream processing activities and sustainable development of logging programme to ensure and promote principles of sustainable forest management, good practice, monitoring, governance.

“Secondly, is to work on alternative forest timber and non-timber products, ecosystem services through agroforestry systems, reforestation, enrichment and regeneration management on the logged over islands degraded and deforested landscapes.

 “These measures taken indicated the seriousness of the DCGA Government in reviewing and developing measures to sustainably manage the forest resources as we continue to harvest and benefit from them,” he adds.

PS Dr Vigulu then acknowledged past years collaborations with stakeholders, donor partners and friends of forest on various strategies and activities, that helps contribute to addressing and enhancing these ongoing priority area objectives for 2020 and 2021.

 Urging all present at the 7th FSTWG meeting that it is proper that updated information’s are shared and discussed with each other so donor partners and stakeholders know what policy areas the Ministry implements using the government budget.

Similarly, it is also proper that you all share with us the potential supports to the government policies or your work programme areas where we can align to mutually benefit communities and resource owners through government policies.

 In doing so, your support will assist and support the government initiatives to sustain and reduce the exploitation and reliance on forest timber products with other alternatives including carbon trading, hence, promoting sustainable forest management, emphasizes the Permanent Secretary.

 Dr. Vigulu reiterates that with the established platform under the FSTWG for sharing of information by all stakeholders, donor partners and friends of forest, it is expected that you all discuss and contribute in strategizing the way forward.

“By having every stakeholder in this forum today, and under this roof, allows for a quick consultation and contributions from everybody and Organisations to avoid re-inventing wheels, especially in research for development, production and added value products.

“We should be working hand in hand to enhance mandated policies, programmes and objectives to achieve anticipated outcomes.”

Those in attendance at the 7th FSTWG meeting are representatives from the forest industry, various donor organisations and school institutions, government line ministries including international and national partners.

– MoFR Pres

US pays tribute to bomb victims

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

THE U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu Erin Elizabeth McKee has expressed her condolences following the bomb incident over the weekend that has already claimed a life.

On Sunday, three people were seriously injured after a bomb exploded as they were cooking out in the open in the residential areas of Lengakiki. One of those injured passed away a short time later.

Friends, relatives and other Solomon Islanders criticised Japan and US for the incident, adding that thousands of tonnes of unexploded World War Two bombs are just under the surface waiting to explode across the Pacific Islands.

Ambassador McKee on Monday issued a media statement stating “We were deeply saddened to hear of the tragic incident in Honiara this past weekend and mourn the loss of a life.

She said the United States government, through their Department of Defense, will continue to support efforts to remove unexploded ordnance from Solomon Islands.

“Among these efforts is our ongoing partnership with Norwegian People’s Aid, which has worked in Solomon Islands since 2019 to identify and dispose of unexploded ordnance.”

It is believed the blast came from an unexploded World War II ordnance (UXO).

The UXO is believed to have been buried not so deep beneath the fireplace where the victims were cooking on.

The incident occurred around 2.45pm yesterday – a group of youths from the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Kukum Church group, Topaz, were cooking for their outreach Ministry work at the residence.

Meanwhile, the government through the Ministry of Aviation and Communication (MCA) is mourning the loss of one of their local qualified aviation engineers who was killed in the bomb blast.

Raziv Hilly, from Vella La Vella and Rannoggah in the Western Province, was one of the four that got injured from the impact of the blast.

The Executive Management and Staff of Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) expressed their sympathies to the families during this difficult time.

Late Raziv Hilly was a highly valuable and respected member, staff and the effects of his passing are already being felt by his fellow colleagues and management.

Raziv was a wonderful employee who understood the meaning of the word “TEAM” He was always more focused on the good of MCA and all MCA Airport Projects than on his own benefit.

 He made many great contributions to the Ministry and helped it move forward in numerous ways. His work here will not be forgotten.

“Please accept our sincere condolences for you, your families and relatives. Raziv was a remarkable man and everyone at MCA especially the Airport Management (APM) is better for having known him.

“For all of us who have had the privilege of calling him “friend” inside and outside of work, we were humbled by his kindness and compassion to everyone around him.

He will be greatly missed and everyone here is saddened by his death. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and families, relatives and friends during this difficult time.

“May the comfort of God help us all during this difficult time and may his soul rest in peace with our Heavenly Father till the resurrection morning.

DSE to promote Citizen Budget Guide 2020/21

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Patteson Oti and Vice Chair DSE Board, Mrs. Alice Hou launched the Citizen Budget Guide.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

DEVELOPMENT Service Exchange (DSE) will go out to communities to promote the Citizen Budget Guide 2020/21.

The Guide is a tool that will help DSE and its Member Organizations to assist and enable communities fully participate in the national budget preparation process, advocate and monitor implementation.

Speaking at the launching of the Guide at Honiara Hotel on Monday night, Vice Chair of DSE Board, Alice Hou said the Guide will map the timeframe, actors and overall process of planning, drafting, adopting, executing and reporting/auditing on the national budget.

“From what we have experienced listening to stories and feedback from our members, it is challenging even understanding what is inside the budget.

“Having this simple guide helps us a lot to help our members and especially citizens to have a guide to understand the budget,” she said.

DSE is a member of Pacific Islands Association of Non-Government Organizations (PIANGO).

They are co-implementing the Public Finance Management (PFM) Small Grant Project.

The PFM Small Grant Project is part of the bigger programme ‘Strengthening Public Financial Management and Governance, supported by European Union and implemented by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

UNDP is partnering with PIANGO in implementing a small grant project with the main focus on ‘Sustainable, Inclusive and Simple Public Finance for All’ in the Pacific.

The PFM Small Grant Project has been successfully implemented in Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Marshall Islands.

Mrs Hou said the partnership between PIANGO and UNDP PFM Unit is an opportunity for innovation and learning drawing on each other’s strengths in ensuring that necessary resource tools are developed to establish capacity and approaches that can be used as the baseline to track learning and practice impact when assessed at the end of each project phase.

She said PIANGO network does not possess the technical expertise on PFM, yet it benefits from an unparalleled network of National Liaison Units in each of the focus countries of PFM project such as DSE in Solomon Islands.

CSO budget briefing workshop underway

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Honiara Base CSO participants poses for a group photo with Parliament staff and Clerk – Mr. David Kusilifu ( center - standing).

A one week information workshop on the 2021 national budget for Civil Society Organizations (CSO) is underway in Honiara.

The workshop is a follow on of the Floating Budget Office (FBO) Mission to Parliament which commenced on Tuesday 16 March, the Mission provided an independent analysis on the 2021 Appropriation Bill through a budget brief to make financial information more simplified and ‘digestible’ for Members of Parliament to use in the Budget debate.

The FBO Mission comprised of researchers from within the National Parliament Office, subject experts on Climate change and Gender and Parliamentary researchers from the Fiji and Tonga Parliaments.

Clerk to National Parliament, David Kusilifu in his opening remarks at the workshop thanked participants for accepting the invitation to the briefing session.

He said national budgets impact the entire country – all sectors, institutions and all communities, therefore, the availability of information to citizens and CSOs is essential not only as a right, but also in terms of having an open and transparent governance system.

 “This workshop provides a space to apply your perspective or lenses as civil society organizations and interest groups on the national budget within the ambit of public finance oversight.”

It is envisaged that the workshop will also assist CSOs to better understand the role and work of Parliament. This is the second Budget briefing workshop held for CSOs, the first was held in late 2019.

The Clerk thanked the following partners for making the event possible:

  • UNDP Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiative (PPEI) and Strengthening Legislature in the Pacific (SIPL) projects – which are funded by the New Zealand and Japan Governments,
  • Development Services Exchange (DSE),
  • The Solomon Islands Government for the ongoing support, and
  • FBO Technical experts;
    • Dr. Jeremy Hills (Climate Change Analyst) and
    • Dr. Swanpa Bist-Joshi (Gender Expert) for the virtual sessions.

The first day of this workshop was a briefing for Honiara based CSOs. Provincial CSO participants will begin their session today Tuesday 11th May and conclude on Friday 14th May 2021.

Civil Societies urged to work together

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Patteson Oti and Vice Chair DSE Board, Mrs. Alice Hou launched the Citizen Budget Guide.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SPEAKER of Parliament, Patterson Oti calls on civil society organizations to work together to create a better Solomon Islands.

Speaking at the launching of the Citizen Budget Guide 2020/21 at Honiara Hotel on Monday night, Oti said let’s work to further develop and deepen democracy in the country for the benefit of all.

The umbrella body of Non-Government Organizations in the country, Development Service Exchange with assistance from European Union, United Nations Development Programe and Pacific Islands Association of NGO’s (PIANGO) helped put together the Guide.

Oti said whilst the Citizen Budget Guide is a first for the Solomon Islands, this underscores the importance of sharing information and the need for citizens to exercise their right to information.

Other Pacific neighbors like Fiji, Vanuatu and Tonga had also previously launched their Citizen Budget Guide many years ago.

“It is my utmost belief that initiative such as the Guide will deepen the quality of our democracy and in addition, bring Government and Parliament closer to the door steps of our people.

“In the bigger scheme of things, whilst the occasion we are celebrating tonight is a first for our country, to me the Citizen Budget Guide is an indication of our collective commitment towards the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.

Oti said it is in line with SDG Goal 16 that they celebrate tonight’s milestone.

He said that is to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

The Guide is a tool that will guide DSE and its Member Organizations to assist and enable communities to fully participate in the national budget preparation process, advocate and monitor implementation.

DSE said you are taxpayers, your money is used to maintain social institutions, housing and communal services are being developed, roads are being built and overhauled, and many other expenses are made.

“You deduct money into the budget and have the right to know – whether it is spent effectively, for what purposes are directed to financing.

“You get a real opportunity to participate in the budget process, not in words but deeds. After all, the more people understand the budget process and are involved in the budget process, the better the result will be,” DSE said in a statement.

New UK Funding to Boost Climate Disaster Responses.

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Admin
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The UK has announced £12 million in new funding to support developing countries to better prepare for and respond to disasters, including those linked to climate change. The funds will go to the Start Network for rapid responses by charities to crises like droughts and floods.

A further £8 million will support the Centre for Disaster Protection to help climate-vulnerable countries deal with crises such as extreme weather caused by climate change and pandemics. This forms part of a wider £48 million package of climate support announced by the Foreign Secretary earlier this year.

Today’s announcement came as the UK’s International Champion on Adaptation and Resilience for the COP26 Presidency, Anne-Marie Trevelyan spoke at a meeting of the Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP), urging the international community to support vulnerable countries to better prepare for and prevent disasters.

The UK’s International Champion on Adaptation and Resilience for the COP26 Presidency, Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

“As climate-related disasters increase in ferocity and frequency we must take action to better prepare for and prevent them, to save lives, protect livelihoods and reduce suffering.

“The commitment and ambition demonstrated today, including the UK’s partnership with the Start Fund, is vital for reaching REAP’s goal of making 1 billion people safer from disasters by 2025. As we count down to COP26, I look forward to working together to continue to scale up early action worldwide.”

Between 1970 and 2019, almost 80% of disasters worldwide involved weather, climate and water-related hazards. From these disasters, 70% of deaths occurred in developing countries – with droughts and floods the deadliest and most costly events.

The severity and frequency of these events is increasing across the globe as climate change worsens. But with investment, countries can be better prepared for disasters and reduce their impacts.

COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma said:

“The Risk-Informed Early Action Partnership is aiming to make one billion people safer from climate disaster by 2025. Today’s event is important in showing how we need to scale-up and improve early warning and I am pleased the UK Government has announced an additional £12m to support these actions in developing countries to minimise, avert and address loss and damage.

“So, whether through new investments, sharing good practice, or placing early action at the heart of plans and policies, we need to work together ahead of COP26 to build a safer, more resilient world.”

The £12 million new UK aid funding is focused on taking early action to address humanitarian crises and will help local and frontline responders anticipate and respond swiftly to protect lives and livelihoods.

Through the Start Network, UK funding will support early action initiatives, from improved forecasting for heatwaves in Pakistan to drought in Madagascar, as well as a new global network of hubs facilitating locally-led responses when disasters do strike.

The announcement follows the G7 Foreign and Development Minsters meetings in London last week, where G7 countries committed support to make people safer from climate disasters through early warning, better preparedness and early action, as well as agreed actions to scale up the finance needed to help countries adapt to the impacts of climate change.

In addition to new funding, the UK also announced a package of technical assistance through:

  • A project with REAP to support climate vulnerable countries in implementing laws, policies and procedures to protect from future crisis risks;
  • Closer working between REAP and the UK-established Adaptation Research Alliance to fill gaps in evidence for early action;
  • Sharing UK social protection expertise to help ensure poverty reduction programmes are resilient to climate shocks.

Citizen budget guide timely: Oti

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

SPEAKER of Parliament, Patterson Oti says the production of the Citizen Budget Guide 2020/21 is timely.

The Guide is an important tool to present the national budget in a simple way that can transform the culture of accountability.

Speaking at the launching of the booklet at Honiara Hotel on Monday night, Oti said not only it will complement the work of Parliament is doing but also it is an indication of the growing desire in “our country to transform the public sector by increasing efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, accountability, access to information, and citizen participation.”

He stressed that the national budget impacts the entire country: all sectors and institutions, and all communities, whether urban or rural.

However, Oti said the challenge, of course, is that budget information can be complex and is produced by different parts of the government at different times.

“It is thus disjointed, located in different, often quite complicated, document,” he said.

Oti said for instance, it usually takes Parliament 4 days to review the Budget Bill and Estimates, both make up more than 700 pages of budgetary information.

He said in many respects, these documents are written for the internal use of government, and so use technical terms that most ordinary people do not understand.

“If they cannot understand what is presented to them, they cannot ask questions about it.

“The people are, in effect, unable to hold their government to account,” he said.

Oti said like the budget briefs that is produced for Parliamentarians by the Floating Budget Missions – the Citizen Budget Guide summarizes and explains basic budget information.

He said it is a report to the people, presented in an accessible format using simple and clear language they can understand.

“This is a key milestone that will encourage engagement to monitor public funds and resources that are allocated in accordance with the wishes and needs of the people,” he said.

Furthermore, Oti said in the day and age where having access to accurate information is critical – the Citizen Budget Guide is a step in the right direction – especially in improving people’s perception of budget and to promote accountability and transparency in public financial management.

The launching coincided with a four days’ workshop at Heritage Park Hotel that started on Monday and concludes on Friday.

EDITORIAL -Good to see donors visiting provinces

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Admin
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GREAT to see our development partners visiting the provinces and talking face-to-face with the premiers.

In recent months and weeks, we’ve seen donor reps visiting provinces they’ve never visited before.

This week for instance, Australia, New Zealand and China representatives are in Gizo, Western Province to meet provincial leaders there.

Call it geopolitical rivalry or what, any visits to our provinces by development partner reps are always welcomed.

For it allows donors, not only to see the reality on the ground, but also to meet provincial leaders and the people face to face.

More often than not, rural development projects were shoved down people’s throat with little or no prior consultation.

This often results in project failures or lack of support from the province and community.

Regular visits to the provinces allow donors to sit down with the people, hear their views and concerns and respond accordingly.

Projects should be funded according to the needs of the people and province.

This is to ensure donor funds are maximised and put to the best use.

World Vision supports churches with 63 tanks

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Press Release
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A total of 63 churches in the country will see their hygiene practices increase as the USAID Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs (BHA) Project through World Vision Solomon Islands recently assisted them with water tanks.

The churches are from Malaita, Makira, Guadalcanal, Temotu and Honiara.

BHA COVID 19 Project Manager Philip Diau said, water tanks and other materials have been provided to these churches. 

“Water tanks have been distributed to 63 churches in Temotu, Makira, Malaita, Guadalcanal and Honiara. Our contractors are now working on installing them for church use,” he said.

Mr Diau further said 27 communities across the project areas also recently being assisted with Tippy Tap materials.


The photo of men carrying a tank: Jimmy Fa’alaua World Vision Community Development Facilitator and Peter Madi who was engaged as casual assisting community members in Malaita to carry a tank up the hill.

“Tippy taps and hardware materials have been given to these communities and our contractors are also working on installing them,”

“Apart from churches and communities, 50 schools have also been identified for installation of hand WASH stations,” Mr Diau said.

Meanwhile, in the past months this COVID 19 project has distributed hygiene kits and COVID 19 Information, Education and Communication Materials (IEC) to 106 Schools and 105 public buses in the project sites.

Funded by USAID through the BHA, the project aimed to increase community resilience to COVID-19, through knowledge and practices related to good health and hygiene.

By World Vision

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