New Hopes For Solomons' Chillies

In May, two varieties of chilli—tobasco and Long Red—were added to the list of produce prices quoted weekly by the energetic Agriculture Department of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate.

Last year, nearly seven tons of chillies were exported from the Solomons to Britain, Europe and Australia. The results, however, were disappointing. Long-distance marketing meant that the big-podded chillies arrived in Europe when they weren’t in demand.

The picture has brightened recently with the visit to Honiara of Mr. John Harrison, an executive with Waters Trading Co. of Sydney, Australian importers, who after his trip told PIM he was impressed with Solomons’ chillies. He also said his company would buy good quality products. He added that the demand in Australia for chillies was high.

Meanwhile, to encourage local production of chillies, a Solomons’ buyer, Mr. Ollie Torling, is offering these prices: up to 22 cents a pound for first-grade dried tobasco and up to 12 cents a pound for dried Long Red pods. Mr. Torling has also offered to help Solomon Islanders set up chilllies plots and drying areas.