BY INDY MAEALASIA
Member of Parliament(MP) for Maringe Kokota, Cathy Nori, has urged the government to prioritize rice farming, highlighting its vital role as a food staple in the Solomon Islands.
Speaking in parliament last week, Nori reflected on the BSA Ltd rice farm that once flourished in the Guadalcanal plains.
“I remember growing up and getting educated in the Guadalcanal plains, Selwyn College there was a rice farm called BSA, it was running very successfully,” she said.
Nori stressed that reviving rice farming would be cost –saving for the government.
“Why can’t we start growing rice again in the country, I am sure it will save a lot of money instead of paying rice from overseas.” She said.
Nori emphasized that rice can be found in every household from urban areas to rural areas and has taken over home grown food.
A 2014 Rice Consumption and Production assessment from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock’s(MAL) reported that rice is the major staple diets for Solomon Islanders.
