The Solomon Islands Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD) has awarded SBD 1.34 million in grants to four indigenous agribusinesses under the Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP), supporting the government's push to expand value-added agriculture, strengthen market access and improve rural livelihoods.
The funding will support downstream processing, post-harvest development and farmer-to-market linkages in line with the GREAT Government's agriculture policy, which aims to increase domestic production, create jobs and raise rural incomes.
The largest grant of SBD 724,000 was awarded to Cathliro Commodities Development Ltd. to complete a chocolate processing factory in Honiara. SOLKAVA Exporter received SBD 313,940 to upgrade its processing facilities, meet international quality standards and procure kava from provincial farmers. Goshen Enterprise was allocated SBD 200,000 to purchase taro, improve transportation and provide post-harvest training for farmers in Malaita Province, while MNEM Investment received SBD 106,000 to procure, process and package kava for domestic and export markets.
Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister Franklyn Derek Wasi said the grants reflect the government's commitment to strengthening indigenous enterprises and promoting partnerships that generate employment and expand economic opportunities in rural communities.
He urged recipients to use the grants responsibly, noting that the funds are public resources intended to support sustainable agricultural development and improve livelihoods across the Solomon Islands.
Recipients said the funding would enable them to expand processing capacity, improve product quality, increase exports and create more reliable markets for local farmers. Several also highlighted the potential to generate employment and strengthen participation by women and young people in agricultural value chains.
The grant agreements require recipients to use the funding only for approved activities, submit regular financial and progress reports, and comply with government monitoring and auditing requirements.
The grants form part of the Commercial Agriculture Development Project, which supports the Solomon Islands government's efforts to modernize agriculture through greater private-sector participation, value-added processing and stronger market linkages. Agriculture remains one of the country's largest sources of employment and income, particularly in rural areas, where most Solomon Islanders depend on farming for their livelihoods.
