A shipment of premium sundried cocoa beans is now making its way to the UK market, marking an important milestone for the Solomon Islands cocoa industry.
High Commissioner Dr Lachlan Strahan joined cocoa farmers, businesses, exporters and the Solomon Islands Government to witness the first consignment of 150 bags of premium sun-dried cocoa beans being shipped to the United Kingdom.
The shipment was made possible through the Less than a Container Load (LCL), a Pacific Horticulture and Agriculture Market Access Program (PHAMA Plus) initiative funded by Australia and New Zealand.
Smaller holder farmers use a digital platform to pool their produce to fill a container together for export, allowing people around the world to enjoy delicious chocolate made from premium Solomon Islands cocoa beans.
The LCL program and the PHAMA Plus initiative seeks to achieve the following;
- To access markets through PHAMA Plus initiatives to break down trade barriers
- To add value locally and train businesses through our private sector development program Strongim Bisnis
- To grow sustainable crops from research from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
- To protect against pests and build productivity through our Solomon Islands Biosecurity Program Iumi tugeda for helpem cocoa farmers
Australia says that it is pleased to work with cocoa farmers and key partners in the Solomon Islands to support the cocoa industry and agricultural exports more generally.
Source: Press Release