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Kia Orana and welcome The Cook Islands Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for agricultural development, legislation and sustainability in the Cook Islands. We trust that you will find the information contained on this site helpful. Should you wish to know more, please contact the undersigned directly or any of the heads of divisions whose contacts you will find herein. We are a small team striving to improve our standards and service delivery, and would welcome contributions on aspects that you feel we could improve on. Purpose The purpose of the Ministry of Agriculture is two-fold: - enact all agricultural legislation pertaining to the export and import of plants and plant products, animals and animal products, so as to maximise the contribution of the sector to the country’s economic development while at the same time safeguarding its fragile environment from the intrusion of unwanted pests and diseases; and
- implement Government policy relating to agriculture sector development under its economic sustainability goal.
Vision For the country to be self sufficient in food and livestock production to the extent possible, and to be relatively free of serious plant and animal pests and diseases.   Anthony Brown
Secretary of Agriculture | Hon. Robert Wigmore
Minister of Agriculture |
Sector Priorities Including Outer Islands The following are the current priority areas for the agriculture sector - Minimisation of pest intrusions by streamlining and tightening quarantine activities at the ports of entry
- Review and update the biosecurity legislation of the country
- Increasing the local production of livestock (pigs, poultry, goats) fruits, vegetables and rootcrops to cater for the increased demand on the local market brought about partly by the expanded tourism industry
- Management of horticultural pests and diseases
- Promotion of organic agriculture due to world trends and the increasing input costs associated with the conventional methods of production
- Re-establishing the agricultural research station on Mauke for the benefit of all islands
- In collaboration with FAO, USP and SPC, implement funded projects in pest management, agricultural production & marketing, floriculture, food standards, information acquisition and dissemination, plant propagation, and agriculture infrastructure
Sector Research Priorities- Survey to establish the status of livestock diseases
- Management of livestock diseases
- Management of viral infestations on selected crops
- Potential market outlets overseas for Cook Islands agricultural products
- Food processing/value adding and their potential for the local and export markets
- Post harvest treatment of crops
- Agricultural labour market
Our Location The Ministry of Agriculture’s main office is located in the Vaka district of Puaikura in the main village collectively called Arorangi. Within the main office compound is housed its Secretariat/Administration service, Livestock Division, Projects Division, CODEX Alimentus contact division, Nursery and
Field Extension Services. For information about the sector’s priorities and suitability of your proposed research project please contact;
Mr Anthony Brown Position: Head, Ministry Agriculture
Address: Arorangi, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Mailing Address: P.O.Box 96 Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Telephone: 28711 Fax: 21881
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