Ministry of Agriculture Embarks on Local Food Promotion

Ministry of Agriculture Embarks on Local Food Promotion

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) is taking a new approach to promote growing and consumption of locally grown crops as a way to prevent incidences of non-communicable diseases in the country.

The approach includes the establishment of a trial site at the Henderson area in East Honiara where varieties of capsicum are put on trial for further evaluation by Agriculture experts.

“This action plan is part of the Ministry’s initiative to encourage the promotion and consumption of locally grown nutritious food,” said Acting Permanent Secretary Jimmy Saele’a during a field visit at the Henderson trial site yesterday.

He said our current changing attitude towards our diet is affecting our health which contributes to high incidences of non-communicable diseases in the country.

In view of this, the government is promoting the growing and consumption of local root crops, fruits and vegetables while discouraging heavy reliance on imported food in daily diets.

The trial undertaken to test the capsicum varieties is aimed at improving production and yield of the vegetable.

Under the program, farmers are encouraged to grow varieties of vegetables that provide high yields for consumption as well as source of income.

Farmers are also invited to next week’s World Food Day program on October 16th where an action plan called “Kaikaim Lokol Kaikai” will be launched.

ENDS

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