Department of Agriculture

HONOLULU — The Hawai`i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) will temporarily restore 22 plant quarantine inspector positions that were slated to be eliminated in the reduction-in-force (RIF) as part of the state’s effort to close a nearly $900 million budget shortfall.  In August, 50 agricultural inspectors who were funded through the General Fund were issued RIF notices.  The rescission of the 22 notices will allow the department to further support core inspection services at all ports statewide; however, inspection capacity will still be significantly decreased from current levels.

To restore the 22 positions, a total of about $1.8 million from alternate sources of funding will be transferred to the General Fund. On August 18^th, the Hawai`i Invasive Species Council approved $600,000 earmarked for invasive species prevention to be used to fund some of the positions.  In addition, $1.2 million will be transferred from fees collected in the Pest Inspection, Quarantine and Eradication Special Fund.  Maritime and airline companies that bring in cargo to Hawai`i are required to pay 50 cents per 1,000 lbs. of cargo into this special fund for inspection, quarantine and eradication of invasive species that may be transported into the state.  These actions will fund the 22 positions for only one year. 

  “The department continues to look for alternative sources of funding,” said Sandra Lee Kunimoto, Chairperson of the Hawai`i Board of Agriculture.  “In addition, we are working on increasing coordination of inspection services to make the most efficient use of our work force and minimize the disruption to our important agricultural, food and shipping industries.”

  

The changes will result in the following adjustment in inspection coverage:

Port	Pre-RIF	Post-RIF
Hilo	10	6
Kona	4	3
Kauai	3	2
Maui	14	11
Oahu	52	33
TOTAL	83	55

With reduced staffing, priorities for inspectors will be focused on all incoming cargo from Guam to prevent the introduction of the brown treesnake, and to inspect food for human consumption and animal feed. The department is also working closely with Federal partners and the agriculture industry to share responsibilities and develop alternate inspection arrangements. 

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