Chinese agricultural specialists have completed rice transplanting across a one-hectare experimental and demonstration farm in Honiara, marking a key milestone in an agricultural technical assistance programme between China and Solomon Islands.
Since June 2026, a team of four experts from the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences (JAAS) — comprising two rice specialists, a vegetable specialist and a fertiliser specialist — has been providing technical assistance to Solomon Islands.
Following preliminary work, including land preparation, seedling cultivation and water salinity monitoring, the team has begun hands-on rice transplanting operations and technical field training. The newly transplanted rice seedlings are reported to be growing well.
Nine agronomy students from Solomon Islands National University (SINU) took part in the transplanting, field observations and crop management activities, gaining practical experience to complement their academic studies.
The Chinese specialists oversaw both manual and mechanised transplanting, completing planting across about one hectare of experimental and demonstration paddy fields. They said mechanised transplanting significantly improved planting efficiency, while standardised techniques ensured uniform seedling density.
To promote modern seedling cultivation methods, the experts also organised on-site training sessions on water-tray and dry-tray seedling raising techniques.
Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) and frontline agricultural officers from provinces across Solomon Islands attended the sessions.
The experts demonstrated key procedures, including seedling substrate preparation, water and fertiliser management, and disease prevention and control. Participants also received practical guidance on identifying healthy seedlings.
According to the project team, all transplanted seedlings have recovered successfully and are showing healthy growth, with vigorous green foliage and normal tillering.
The next phase of the programme will focus on paddy field management, monitoring and controlling pests, diseases and weeds, and providing specialised training for provincial agricultural officers.
The experts will also continue mentoring SINU agronomy students in daily field management, including water and fertiliser application, as well as integrated pest, disease and weed management throughout the rice growing cycle.
The agricultural technical assistance project is jointly supported by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Solomon Islands and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock under a long-term agricultural science and technology cooperation framework between JAAS and MAL.
The initiative aims to strengthen agricultural cooperation between China and Solomon Islands while improving the country's rice and vegetable production capacity.
