BY TONY IROGA
A copra farmer has welcomed the announcement that the Commodities Export Marketing Authority (CEMA) is getting its first two short-haul landing crafts to help reach farmers in the rural areas.
Chris Moli of Makira island, Makira-Ulawa province shares that transportation is one of the main expenses and challenges they face when they want to bring their products to sell.
He acknowledges the initiative that CEMA CEO Colin Yow is bringing to help farmers like himself across the country.
Moli, a coconut producer earns his living through coconut farming and supplying copra to agents of CEMA in the province.
He recalled the difficulties he faced when he first entered the copra industry.
“When I started, I did not have much knowledge or skill in copra production.
“At that time, it was very difficult even to fill one 20-kilogramme bag of copra in a day,” he said.
Despite the hardships, Moli remained determined to support his family.
“Life was hard, but I had no other option. Copra production was the only source of income available to help me earn money and provide for my family,” he said.
Through persistence and experience, gradually improved his skills and increased his productivity.
Today, he is able to produce and fill more than three bags of copra per day, depending on the availability of coconuts.
“With time, I learned the skills and became more confident in my work. Now I can produce much more than when I first started,” he explained.
Moli regularly sells his dried copra to local CEMA buying agents in Kirakira, however, he said one of the biggest obstacles facing farmers in the area is the lack of reliable transportation.
“The biggest challenge for us is transport.
“Sometimes we have to use outboard motor boats to carry our copra bags because the distance from our farms to the buying point is very far,” he said.
He believes CEMA’s new landing crafts will make life easier for farmers.
“If transport was easier, farmers would be happier and we would be able to produce and sell more copra,” Moli said.
Despite the challenges, he expressed gratitude for the opportunities provided through the copra industry and his association with CEMA.
“I am happy to continue producing copra and working closely with CEMA and its agents,” he said.
He encourages other farmers and producers throughout his community to work together and maintain strong relationships with local buying agents and CEMA.
“I encourage all farmers to cooperate with their agents and build a good network with CEMA. Working together will help us improve our livelihoods and strengthen the copra industry in our communities,” he said.
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