There's been a huge drop in copra production in the Marshall Islands this year.
Copra processing officials say the decline is a direct result of a severe drought which affected the northern islands at the beginning of 2013.
Copra production this year took a 33 percent dive, compared to the same time last year, cutting cash paid to remote outer islands by over US 1 million dollars.
In the 2013 fiscal year, copra makers netted over $3 million from producing the dried coconut meat, however this past fiscal year, copra makers received just over $2 million.
Only southern atolls, less affected by last years drought, maintained strong levels of production of copra, which is processed into coconut oil for export.
A copra plant general manager, Jemi Nashion, says the copra production is a result of the drought, and it's hoped it can pick up as there is sign of recovery in the affected areas.
