PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 8:48 PM by Luigi

Fruit processing in Kiribati

The following message was sent by Betarim Rimon in Kiribati to Lois Englberger. They both agreed to share it more widely...

As part of sharing information process, Kiribati has approved our fruit processing project that was very much inspired by your pandanus research. The expected mill be a pilot one and it’s implementation will be only to test run the machines and fine tune them so it reaches maximum performance and also to see if processing local fruits namely pandanus, breadfruit, local fig fruits, giant taro and even coconut toddy. FAO has assisted us in providing guidelines and other important considerations before we actually go into it.

As for funding, total funding is AU$206,000 and Kiribati, with the financial help of Taiwan, has provide 50% of funding while the Centre for the Development of the enterprises (CDE based in Brussels) had agreed to donate the other 50%. Only recently that we received information from CDE that they have changed their mind and therefore could not provide anymore their 50% contribution.

Even then, we have now secured $103,000 from local funding (Taiwan assistance) and we are now going to start our project with only this 50%. This would mean a downscaling also by 50%. Partners in the project are our Ministry, the Ministry of Commerce and the Development Bank of Kiribati.

Content of the project is to begin with the pandanus, breadfruit and banana. We are aiming at a number of products like baby foods, juice and snacks. We are now working closely with the Techso company of Australia in getting the right machine for this purpose. We are not looking at offshore markets, we will begin with local market first. If the project is successful, then other arrangements like privatizing the mill or tendering it to the private sector, or expanding it into a government owned company. All these optional arrangements will be determined during the course of the project.

I hope this information is interesting and thanks for your remain interest in our pandanus. We will be very grateful if you other inputs from your end.

Best regards

Mr Betarim Rimon
Senior Project Officer and FAO NC for Kiribati
Project and Planning Office
Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development
PO Box 234
Bikenibeu
Tarawa
Republic of Kiribati
Phone: 686-28371
Fax: 686-28334
Emails: betarimr@melad.gov.ki and betarimr@yahoo.com (preferred when travel)



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DIVA-GIS	Thursday, April 20, 2006 Posted 8:48 PM by Luigi Fruit processing in Kiribati The following message was sent by Betarim Rimon in Kiribati to Lois Englberger. They both agreed to share it more widely... As part of sharing information process, Kiribati has approved our fruit processing project that was very much inspired by your pandanus research. The expected mill be a pilot one and it’s implementation will be only to test run the machines and fine tune them so it reaches maximum performance and also to see if processing local fruits namely pandanus, breadfruit, local fig fruits, giant taro and even coconut toddy. FAO has assisted us in providing guidelines and other important considerations before we actually go into it. As for funding, total funding is AU$206,000 and Kiribati, with the financial help of Taiwan, has provide 50% of funding while the Centre for the Development of the enterprises (CDE based in Brussels) had agreed to donate the other 50%. Only recently that we received information from CDE that they have changed their mind and therefore could not provide anymore their 50% contribution. Even then, we have now secured $103,000 from local funding (Taiwan assistance) and we are now going to start our project with only this 50%. This would mean a downscaling also by 50%. Partners in the project are our Ministry, the Ministry of Commerce and the Development Bank of Kiribati. Content of the project is to begin with the pandanus, breadfruit and banana. We are aiming at a number of products like baby foods, juice and snacks. We are now working closely with the Techso company of Australia in getting the right machine for this purpose. We are not looking at offshore markets, we will begin with local market first. If the project is successful, then other arrangements like privatizing the mill or tendering it to the private sector, or expanding it into a government owned company. All these optional arrangements will be determined during the course of the project. I hope this information is interesting and thanks for your remain interest in our pandanus. We will be very grateful if you other inputs from your end. Best regards Mr Betarim Rimon Senior Project Officer and FAO NC for Kiribati Project and Planning Office Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development PO Box 234 Bikenibeu Tarawa Republic of Kiribati Phone: 686-28371 Fax: 686-28334 Emails: betarimr@melad.gov.ki and betarimr@yahoo.com (preferred when travel) * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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