By BEN BILUA
Gizo
THE long-awaited Mile 6 Cattle Project at Gizo in Western Province is expected to kick off as soon as funding is released to the Western Provincial Government (WPG).
Chief Field Agriculture Officer for Western Province, Sipuru Rove, told Island Sun that his office is currently waiting for the release of SBD300,000 from the Economic Development and Community Resilience (IEDCR) programme through the WPG.
“We checked with the Provincial Procurement Officer and were told that IEDCR is yet to deposit the fund into the provincial account.
“So, for us, it is a waiting game,” Rove said.
Rove explained that the SBD300,000 allocation will cover costs for materials not provided under assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), particularly wooden posts and support for fence construction.
He said MAL had already funded 1,500-star pickets and 100 rolls of barbed wire last year, and the materials are now in Gizo ready for use.
Rove said his office is working closely with the WPG Procurement Officer to finalize tender documents so that once the money becomes available, tenders can be advertised without delay.
According to Rove, the fencing materials already received will cover about 32 hectares of the 70 hectares of land allocated for the livestock development programme at Mile 6.
He said the project aims to establish a cattle breeding facility, which will later supply healthy cattle breeds to smallholder farmers across Western Province and other parts of the country.
“There is a great need to introduce new cattle breeds to improve livestock quality and productivity.
“Currently, the herds are in-breeding, meaning related animals are mating. We are waiting for the facility to be completed before bringing in new breeds to improve production. This will be done once the new facility is ready,” Rove said.
Rove acknowledged the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the Western Provincial Government for their continued support towards livestock development in the province.
“We want to thank Dr Samson Viulu and the Minister for their support towards this project,” he said.
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