Tetere, Solomon Islands, 18 July 2017 -- Sickles, knives and other tools in hand, the staff and students of Don Bosco Rural Training Centre, Tetere, harvested a bumper crop of rice on the 18th July, 2017.
The Harvest Festival was attended by His Excellency Roger Luo and his wife, the Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Solomon Islands.
Present on the occasion were Mr. Mars Shuie, Chief of Taiwan Technical Mission; Madam Ani and Mr. Rex representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Live stocks and National Rural Rice Development Project and Mr. Douglas Mamaka Superintendent of Tetere Correctional and Rehabilitation Center.
Heavy rains and strong winds during the past weeks have watered and nourished the crop, planted over three months ago. Staff and students were in smiles as the sun shone on the sheaves in preparation for the harvest festival.
A total of 5 to 6 tons of rice will be harvested by the end of the season. The harvested rice crop will be bundled into sheaves. The students will then be engaged in threshing the grain. The process of milling will be done by the students themselves at the Rural Training Centre.
Rice is eaten by a lot of people in the Solomon Islands. The over 80 students have learnt the entire process of planting rice. While some of the rice will be sold, their harvested crop will also serve as their staple diet in the months to come.
A thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration was held the next day. The entire community thanked the Lord for the marvellous gifts and an abundant harvest bestowed on them by the Creator. They also thanked the Lord for the support they receive from the sponsors of the project.
The Rural Training Centre runs a two-year program in animal husbandry and agriculture. The centre has students from all the provinces of the Solomon Islands.
