Gozoruru Agriculture Research Centre to be developed.

From left to right: Isabel Government rep, Isabel Premier Hon James Habu, MAL Minister Hon Duddley Kopu, MAL PS Jim Saelea and Isabel Provincial Gov't Rep .
Standing from left to right: Hon Dr Culwick Togamana and Isabel Provincial Gov't Rep.

The National government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, MAL, and the Isabel Provincial government have signed a memorandum of Understanding, MOU, and officially opened the Gozoruru Agriculture Development and Research Centre in Isabel Province last week.

This has paved the way for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, MAL, to develop Gozoruru site into the main Agriculture Development and Research Centre for the country.

Speaking during the MOU signing, Minister for MAL Hon Duddley Kopu said the MOU has two objectives.

“One, to facilitate the use of resources within the Gozoruru property by the Ministry for establishing Agriculture development centre where research and development will be the main focus,” Hon Kopu said.

“Two, to foster collaboration between Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and Isabel Provincial government with regard to agriculture development for Isabel province and the country,” he said.

Under the MOU, MAL will gradually establish an agriculture research field station and programs or records on research and land use planning, integrated rice development, livestock development, cattle breeding and related activities.

Parliament Member for Maringe/Kokota Constituency, Hon Dr Culwick Togamana said the agriculture centre will seek to address too many issues.

“From strictly agriculture research, it will focus on actual methods of growing and utilizing crop plants with animal production,” Dr Togamana said.

“The research facilities will use agricultural methods, develop empirically invites part of the world and submit them to critical field experimentations to test their viability for use in actual practice and climatic conditions,” he said.

Hon Premier James Habu and Minister MAL, Hon  Duddley Kopu at Gozoruru Agriculture Development and Research centre.

Meanwhile the Isabel Provincial Premier Hon James Habu said the MOU signing and opening of the Gozoruru Agriculture Development and Research Centre is done in the best interest of Isabel people and all Solomon Islanders.

Hon Habu said  agriculture remains the back bone of the country and agriculture research is very important because most people rely on agriculture.

Hon Habu said agriculture research is very important for food security and national security.

“In short I will say it is in the best interest of our people of Isabel Province and also in the interest of our people in the Isabel Provincial government,” Hon Habu said.

He said Isabel Provincial Assembly believes that Agriculture is the backbone of the country.

Hon Habu assures the national government that Isabel province will committed to support the agriculture research project.

“The Isabel government will do its best and I appeal to our good people including the government officers to do our part, and our good communities, that whatever we think, this is important for us and for our country,” he said.

“Our farmers, students and all the people of our province will have access to the research and of course everybody will benefit,” Hon Habu said.

He said Isabel Province is happy to partner with MAL to develop the agriculture centre.

About 400 hectares of land is given to MAL by the Isabel Provincial government for development.

MAL Minister Hon Duddley Kopu and Isabel Premier Hon James Habu officially opening the Gozoruru Agriculture Development and Research Centre.

The MOU was signed by the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, MAL, Hon Duddley Kopu, Permanent Secretary MAL, Jim Saelea, Isabel Premier Hon James Habu and a rep from the Isabel Provincial government.

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