During a recent hearing, the Maui County Council evaluated the proposed budget for the newly established Department of Agriculture for the next fiscal year, with a particular focus on addressing the coconut rhinoceros beetle infestation in Maui County. The council sought clarity on the department's strategy and the justification for the requested $300,000 to combat the beetle, which poses a significant threat to palm trees. This funding request is a component of the department's overall budget proposal of $9.5 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

As part of the broader $1.7 billion county budget proposed by Mayor Richard Bissen, the Department of Agriculture is envisioned to serve as a crucial line of defense against the beetle.

According to Maui Agriculture Director Kali Arce, the department's efforts will be geared towards education and outreach, in addition to supporting collaborations with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) and the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC). The overarching goal of the Maui Department of Agriculture (MDOA) is to elevate the value of Maui's agriculture to $123.3 million by 2028, up from $93.3 million in agricultural product sales in 2022, as reported by the USDA's Census of Agriculture profile for Maui County.

Source - https://www.freshplaza.com