BY MORRIS NAFU
The Makira Ulawa Provincial Government (MUP) has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) releasing the Okea Land in North Guadalcanal Plains to MAL for its agricultural development initiatives.
MUP Premier Stanley Siapu and MAL Minister Franklyn Derek Wasi signed the agreement at the MAL conference room on Wednesday this week.
The agreement leases 5.87 hectares of the land parcel for farming initiatives with 1.5 hectares to be reserved for the MUP Government.
The agreement establishes a framework for sustainable utilisation of the land parcel.
The initial agreement proposal will see Cassava farming plots and production system, development of poultry, broiler, layer and piggery units with housing and food storage enhancing food security and economic boost for both the national and provincial economy.
During the signing ceremony Mr Siapu acknowledged MAL for the offer of developing the land and expressed willingness to work closely with the Ministry not only for the Okea land farming initiative but also for agriculture development in Makira Ulawa province.
Mr Wasi acknowledged MUPG for the agreement and promised to promote agriculture sector as the backbone of the country’s economy.
He thanked the MUP for agriculture production in the province in terms of cocoa and copra; contributing to the growth of country’s economy.
Wasi added that with the agreement now signed, MAL will now move forward with its plans of clearance of unexploded ordnances (UXO) followed by fencing of the area before rolling out farming initiatives on the land.
Before the signing agreement, the MUP offered a Chupu presentation ceremony to the people of the land and the Guadalcanal Provincial Assembly as a way of cementing its land ownership of the land parcel.
Photo: Supplied
For feedback, contact: [email protected]
