Landowners of many maritime island in the North have been urged to use their idle land by planting yasi or sandalwood.

This comes after maritime tour of the North led by Assistant Minister Agriculture and Rural and Maritime Development Joeli Cawaki and Government officials.

Mr Cawaki has taken the first step by spearheading a yasi planting programme in many maritime islands and conducting awareness at village level.

The Government delegation, which visited 11 islands in the North encourage landowners to invest in the tree cash crop.

“Sandalwood had become scarce in the country and landowners had been asked to make use of their unproductive land by planting for the future,” Mr Cawaki said.

“With the Department of Forests trying to revive the country’s sandalwood forests the team is playing its part in spreading the word to the people.”

He said Bua was known in the past for its sandalwood which was almost wiped out by sandalwood traders in the 1800s.

“We still have the chance to get back in action by planting this tree which is easy and has a high economic value,” he said.

The Department of Forestry is selling sandalwood seedlings at $3 apiece.

Rabi sandalwood farmer Taungare Ruata, who has a nursery at Tabiang village, said, “We have recommended to the people that we plant a lot of it for its economical value.”

Edited by Manasa Kalouniviti

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