The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock is hopeful a vapor heat treatment system will be installed in May. In July 2022, MAL commenced work on the building complex for the vapor heat treatment with a groundbreaking ceremony at its Headquarters in Honiara. The vapor heat treatment project is costing the Government around SB$7 Million to complete. The building complex and treatment facility is a longtime dream for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and a breakthrough for the ministry to have the first of its kind in the country and the region. The treatment facility will be used to treat fruits to be certified to meet the requirements it needs for export. The vapor heat treatment facility is made in Japan. It uses water vapor to heat fruits at a certain temperature to kill eggs and larvae of fruit flies that usually spoils fruits. Jimmy Construction Company has been contracted to build the treatment building complex. The project is co-funded by Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and Ministry of Infrastructure Development, MID.
