The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (M.A.F.) will soon dissolve one of its divisions to be be transferred to another Government body.

The M.A.F. Crops Research Unit will soon come under the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (S.R.O.S.) located at Vailima, the Minister of Finance, Sili Epa Tuioti, revealed.

Speaking in Parliament during the 2020 Supplementary budget address, Sili referred to a $1.56 million under M.A.F. that represents appropriation for the Crops Research Unit being transferred under S.R.O.S. 

He said the allocation also includes “funds originally allocated for regional meetings now reprioritised to fund other priority operations of the Ministry.”   

The Crops Research Unit serves the Crops division by way of providing research to improve and sustain crops production for the benefit of subsistence and commercial ventures. 

According to Sili, a fund of $680,797 has been allocated to S.R.O.S. to resource the new Crops Research division of the organisation. 

It includes personnel, operating and capital expenditure, he added. 

S.R.O.S. works to promote the national economy of Samoa based on its research and development. 

The research agency undertakes scientific and technical research with primary aim of adding value to local resources and services. 

As part of the COVID-19 stimulus package, a fund of $2.5 million was allocated to S.R.O.S. to establish a commercial arm that is proposed to begin in January. 

The funding is to build a multipurpose facility and acquire equipment to commercialise its research base on Samoan-made goods.