06/02/2014 (Solomon Star) - Ministry of agriculture and livestock (MALS) through its palm oil department will continue offer budgeting and book-keeping training to all its out grower members in Guadalcanal Plains and Vangunu in Western province this year.

Last year Vangunu and Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil (GPPOL) out growers completed a two weeks of similar training in Honiara.

The training was facilitated by the MASE business centre with funds coming from the ministry.

A spokesperson for the department told the Solomon Star yesterday that similar training will continue this year.

He said out-growers have been divided into zones – GPPOL 1 and Vangunu outgrowers are in zone one while  GPPOL 2-3 another zone.

“These zones have been divided and our training this year will be organised in zones.
“We will organise the first training for zone one before zone two.”

All the out-growers need to complete three modules before getting their receiving their certificate of completion.

The training is important to allow the out-growers to have knowledge and skills when it comes to managing their income and royalties gain from palm oil product.

Palm oil industry is one of the main revenue earners for Solomon Islands apart from logging, mining, fishing and tourism.