Copra warehouses should also be provided on the main

islands in order that processed copra may be stored adequately
and thereby promote constant processing of copra.

A warehouse

would also provide a favorable situation toward establishing a
copra farmers'

cooperative to take advantage of volume purchase

of trade goods to extend over longer durations and thereby
relinquish the heavy dependancy on erratic field trip service.
A cooperative would contribute heavily to a steady production
of copra unlike the present trend in concentrated production
before the arrival of field trip ships.

The Cost of Agricultural Development in Bikini
The estimated cost of such an agricultural development

program as outlined above will be in the realm of $165,000 over
the four years expected for completion and maintenance.

This

is to say that it will cost approximately $174 to rehabilitate
One acre of land,
figure is a

by far not a very unreasonable cost.

This

conservative one and does not include all the costs

of logistic support and other undetermined expenses.

A large portion of the cost would be pre-empted by labor.
Heavy equipment and power tools would greatly hasten work accomplishments,

but the better part of the time would be required in

digging of planting pits for each seedling----approximately
52,000 planting pits are required.

Forty-four laborers, including

three equipment operators and a mechanic,

would be required to

complete the replanting in one calender year (210 working days).

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