Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2017, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for agricultural research and development to be conducted by the Hawaii Agricultural Research Center (HARC).

Your Committee finds that agricultural research benefits Hawaii's agricultural industry in ways that can lead to increased productivity, healthy plants, efficient planting schemes, and more profits for the industry. For example, Hawaii's sugar and pineapple industries benefited greatly for many years from the research conducted for these crops in the areas of hybridization, fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides, and cultivation methods.

Your Committee also finds that agricultural research leads to the discovery of new products that enhance agricultural diversification. For example, HARC is researching the viability of seed production to sell seeds worldwide.

Your Committee supports agricultural research efforts to help farmers and others be more efficient and effective in their work.

Your Committee has amended this bill by changing the appropriation to a blank amount to allow for further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2017, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2017, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.