BY TONY IROGA
A copra farmer from Ugi Island has praised the Commodity Export and Marketing Authority (CEMA) for making it easier for rural farmers to sell their produce and earn income without the burden of costly transportation.
Prince, a CEMA customer from Ugi Islands in Makira-Ulawa Province, said the presence of CEMA buying agents in the province has significantly improved the livelihoods of local copra farmers.
“As a farmer, I find life much easier because we can sell our copra directly to CEMA agents here in the province,” Prince said.
“Transport is one of our biggest challenges, and we are very fortunate to have CEMA agents operating close to us.”
He explained that travelling to Honiara to sell copra is expensive and often beyond the financial means of many rural farmers.
“Selling copra to CEMA here is much cheaper than transporting it to Honiara,” he said.
“The freight costs are very high, so having CEMA agents here saves us a lot of money and effort.”
Prince said CEMA’s presence in rural communities has strengthened connections with farmers and created a more accessible market for copra producers across the province.
“I fully support the work CEMA is doing, especially by establishing buying agents in the provinces where farmers live and work,” he said.
“This initiative has helped many of us who face transport difficulties because of our remote locations.”
According to Prince, another major benefit of selling to CEMA agents is the quick payment process, which allows farmers to meet their household needs without delay.
“When we sell our copra to CEMA agents, we receive cash quickly, which helps support our families and cover our daily needs,” he said.
Prince also encourages farmers throughout the country to take advantage of the opportunities provided by CEMA.
“My message to all farmers in Solomon Islands is to support CEMA by selling your copra to them,” he said.
“They are already working with us in the provinces, and we should continue building a strong partnership with them.”
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