By Mike Puia
A local business woman has urged the government to help rural copra farmers who have difficulty bringing their copra bags to Honiara for sell.
Diana Koelau, Managing Director of Jamcop – a local company that buys and exports copra to the Philippines, made this appeal in light of ships’ high freighting cost.
Jamcop, which is owned by Diana and her husband Walter, buys copra from producers at Pt Cruz wharves and store them in their shed awaiting export to the Philippines, either by arranged or chartered ship.
Diana said they want the government to help copra farmers by way of supporting the freighting costs they (farmers) foot every time.
“I am always in awe of the hard work and dedication each family has in making sure the coconut is collected, properly dried, carefully stored and ready to be shipped to Honiara to sell,” Diana said.
She said women are ones who suffer the most.
“I have seen firsthand the struggles faced by our rural women,” Diana said.
She said very often she hears complaints from women on the high cost of ship freight.
“One way the government can interfere and help is to subsidize the cost farmers paid to ships,” Diana said.
