The Solomon Islands Government has congratulated rice farmers on the Guadalcanal Plains after their first rice harvest.
The Government, with assistance from Taiwan, implemented two separate projects in the area after the cost of imported rice soared.
The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Selwyn Riumana, says the harvests mark a fine achievement by the farmers that fulfills the Government's rural development policy to improve the livelihoods of rural dwellers.
He says they also aim to reduce the huge cost of importing of rice.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua says the Government is closely monitoring the price of rice and expects to see it fall in the coming months.
Dr Sikua says he had been advised that while the price for some varieties of rice had fallen in recent months, charges for the medium grain rice preferred by Solomon Islanders remain high.
