Some members of the business community in Solomon Islands say land and labour issues are hindering hopes to revive the rice industry.
The grain is a major staple food in Solomon Islands and the country is heavily dependent on imports which cost the nation millions of dollars a year.
The country was once a successful rice producing nation until tropical Cyclone Namu struck in May 1986, creating mudslides and floods which destroyed food crops.
The Chairman of the Solomon Islands Manufacturers Association, Sika Manuopangai believes THE country has a lot of rice growing potential but says there are challenges holding back progress.
"One of them is land -land issues. Of course we know there are a lot of disputes to ownership of lands because of the current land ownership system here."
Sika Manuopangai says finding people willing to do the work is also an issue because rice farming is labour intensive.
