A coconut manager in Solomon Islands has warned that the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle could completely change life in the country.
A tree that has been infested by the coconut rhinoceros beetle. Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Koro Vakauta
Kokonut Pacific Project Manager Tony Matelaomao is working on ways to eradicate the pest which has now spread across Guadacanal and into other provinces, destroying crops and threatening copra and palm oil production.
But Mr Matelaomao said it is the livelihoods of villagers which could really be impacted if something is not done to protect the 29,000 hectares of coconuts in the Solomons.
"I cannot imagine Solomon Islands without coconuts. Coconut is not only a cash-crop, it is basically an important livelihood where people use on a day to day basis, for their meals, for their medicines. It is a very important crop to us and without coconuts I do not know what it will be like."
Tony Matelaomao said he has seen the beetle ravage up to 50 or 60 percent of farmers' trees.
Coconut rhinoceros beetle larvae Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Koro Vakauta
