News

Organic produce from Cicia expected to hit the markets

May 13, 2014 7:00 pm

Farmers on Cicia Island in the Lau Group are getting ready to supply the local market with their organically-grown produce.

The island was declared 100-per cent organic free about one year ago.

Farmers, students and other members of the community on Cicia Island have putting to practice lessons about organic farming says Isikeli Karikaritu, advisor of Cicia Organic Monitoring Agency.

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“People are being made to be aware of what it involves. We are slowly looking into the markets and this is not going to be an easy task and certainly we will be competing with other non-organic farmers and producers in the country.”

There are no chemicals on the farms only 100 per cent botanical pesticides.

Karikaritu says the traditional farming practices are still being used in Cicia and these methods align well with organic principles.

All farming systems and products comply with Pacific Organic Standards.

The initiative is supported with funding from the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD).

It is implemented by POETCom housed under the EU I-ACT Project at SPC Land Resource Division in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture.