The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has launched the Agriculture Investment for Markets and Nutrition (AIM-N) Project in Western Province, aiming to strengthen agriculture, improve nutrition and boost rural incomes.
The project was officially launched in Gizo by Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Franklyn Derek Wasi in partnership with the Western Provincial Government led by Premier Billy Veo.
The event brought together provincial leaders, representatives from the education, health and agriculture sectors, women’s groups and members of the AIM-N project team.
Wasi said the initiative represents a renewed commitment to farmers, fisherfolk, rural women and youth, and to the future of agriculture and nutrition in the Solomon Islands.
“Today marks more than the commencement of a project. It marks a renewed commitment to our farmers, fisherfolk, rural women and youth, and to the future of agriculture and nutrition in our country,” he said.
He said Western Province has long played an important role in the country’s agricultural and fisheries production, producing commodities such as cocoa, coconut, root crops and marine resources that sustain thousands of rural households.
Wasi said the project aims to create long-term systems that expand economic opportunities in rural communities.
“This initiative is not about short-term assistance. It is about building systems. It is about creating opportunity and transforming rural livelihoods in a way that is sustainable and inclusive,” he said.
He added that farmers continue to face challenges including limited market access, climate risks, post-harvest losses and inadequate infrastructure.
The AIM-N project is implemented through a partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The programme will support stronger market linkages for farmers, improved productivity and climate resilience, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, greater participation of women and youth in agribusiness and institutional strengthening at both national and provincial levels.
Wasi emphasised that women and young people will play a central role in the programme.
“If we are serious about rural transformation, we must ensure that women have access to productive resources, finance and leadership opportunities. We must also create pathways for young people to see agriculture not as subsistence but as enterprise,” he said.
Premier Veo welcomed the initiative and thanked the national government and development partners for including Western Province in the programme.
He said the project would strengthen service delivery to rural communities by providing technical and financial support to farmers and families, enabling them to produce nutritious food while generating sustainable incomes.
Veo also highlighted the importance of public awareness during implementation to ensure communities understand how they can participate in the programme.
Western Province Minister for Agriculture and Forestry Isaac Jenty said the project aligns with the Western Provincial Agricultural Sector Plan 2023–2027 and supports efforts to strengthen smallholder farming and agricultural value chains.
Western Province Minister for Education Gordon Zebo said the initiative would also help promote healthier school environments by supporting the reintroduction of school gardens and encouraging the consumption of nutritious local food.
Meanwhile, Western Province Minister for Health Kenneth George said improving nutrition is essential to addressing the country’s growing non-communicable disease crisis, noting that such illnesses account for around 60 to 70 percent of deaths in the Solomon Islands.
The AIM-N Project is a six-year programme valued at about $20 million. Launched nationally in July 2025, it aims to improve food security, nutrition and rural incomes for more than 18,000 people, representing about 6,100 households in Choiseul, Isabel and Western provinces.
