Cattle can now be slaughtered in rural islands and villages before they transported and sent to the mainland.

The Agriculture Ministry reviewed the Meat Act and Permanent Secretary, Uraia Waibuta says slaughtering can take place in the outer islands.

“But we have to have specific facilities in order to do that. If houses are not provided if the SOP is not in place or septic tank and drainage system not in place then the Director of Animal Health and production won’t approve the facility to allow you to carry out those process.”

Waibuta adds this is part of the government’s initiative to try and take development to the rural people and empower them to add value to their products and send them to markets to get higher returns.