Gov. Neil Abercrombie plans to fill 10 vacant state agricultural inspector positions — all of them located at the Honolulu Airport.

The 10 positions will increase the level of inspections of produce and agricultural material and decrease inspection delays, the governor’s office said in a news release. 

Abercrombie also signed into law House Bill 1568, which directs the Department of Transportation and agriculture department to begin the design and construction of biosecurity inspection facilities at airports and harbors.  

Prior to  layoffs in 2009, there were 95 plant quarantine inspectors statewide, covering all domestic maritime and air cargo inspections and handling import permits for regulated plants, animals and microorganisms.  Currently, there are only 50 agricultural inspectors statewide.