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President Mori Visited Pilot Project Farm In Madolenihmw

Palikir, POHNPEI (FSM Information Service): November 6, 2008 - On November 01, 2008, President Manny Mori and members his Cabinet visited the FSM Pilot Farm in Pohnlangs, Madolenihmw at the invitation of Her Excellency LEU Fei, Ambassador of People's Republic of China to the Federated States of Micronesia.

The farm is funded by the Government of China. It covers an area of 80,000 square meters. Half of it is designated for traditional local crops like sakau, yam, taro, banana and others. The other half has been brought under cultivation of vegetable consisting of 5,928 square meters canopy, and 2,000 square meters newly-completed open area for various kinds of vegetables. Melons have been and will be grown on it. The farm also has two pig houses and two chicken houses, and the 5,000 square meters farm is yet to be exploited.

The Project has successfully grown over 40 vegetable varieties and have trained about 600 local farmers and technicians.

The President and his cabinet toured the farm especially the nurseries and the green houses. The President was brief about the farm's current development, including vegetable and fruits it produced, and how they made use of the organic fertilizer to build and ecological farm.

Ambassador LIU welcomed President Manny Mori and his cabinet members to the farm, and thanked them for the visit, "This is the honor of the farm for the senior leaders to visit the farm to support the project", said the Ambassador.

She stated that the Chinese technicians also put a lot of effort in participating in the whole process of vegetable production including a great deal of labor work besides their own responsibilities.

She also noted that after the visit the project may adopt new methods that will really move the farm forward and make it more useful and more beneficial.

Secretary Lorin Robert on behalf of President Mori thanked Ambassador Fei for the kindness and hospitality extended to the President and his cabinet members.

He noted that agriculture is one of the development objectives of the FSM besides tourism and fisheries. So we will continue to look to your country for support. He also made mention of the other projects specifically for the vessels in Chuuk and in Yap that the Chinese are willing to refurbish at their own costs.