More than 14,000 farmers across three Solomon Islands provinces are benefiting from SBD38.08 million in grants and other support under the Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation (SIART) Project.
The World Bank-funded project, implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, has signed funding agreements with 96 Agribusiness Producer Organizations (ABPOs) in Guadalcanal, Malaita and Makira/Ulawa provinces, according to the project.
The support covers key agricultural value chains including cocoa, coconut, piggery, poultry, food crops, spices, coffee and honey.
The 96 ABPOs represent 14,665 farmers, including 5,165 in Guadalcanal, 6,166 in Malaita and 3,334 in Makira/Ulawa.
SIART Project Manager William Okekini said the grants aim to increase the production capacity and incomes of smallholder farmers, while improving access to extension services in crop production, small livestock and animal health.
“It is encouraging to see the positive impacts the project is having on the targeted vulnerable communities for agriculture production and the rest of the project areas,” Okekini said.
“We are increasing the income for smallholder and semicommercial farmers engaged in high-value crops and small livestock production while contributing to our objective of enhanced agricultural production, import substitution, and increased export.”
Of the 96 ABPOs, 45 focus on cocoa, 20 on piggery, 14 on coconut, nine on food crops, four on poultry, two on spices and one each on coffee and honey. Together, they cover 30 constituencies across the three provinces.
Cocoa receives SBD18 million
Cocoa accounts for the largest share of SIART's investment, with SBD18.04 million allocated to 45 ABPOs across the three provinces.
The investment covers 16 ABPOs in Guadalcanal, 20 in Malaita and nine in Makira/Ulawa, benefiting about 1,200 households and 6,900 people.
The project has supported the rehabilitation of 880 hectares of existing cocoa farms, 31 nurseries and the provision of 300,000 seedlings, equivalent to about 350 hectares of new planting.
It has also financed 72 new cocoa dryers, rehabilitated 24 existing dryers and built 34 solar dryers to increase processing capacity.
Farmers have received training in integrated pest and disease management, farm management, cocoa grafting for genetic improvement, financial literacy and record keeping.
SIART has also disbursed SBD2.764 million in working capital, allowing ABPOs to purchase wet beans for processing and dried beans from local farmers.
For the Matepono Farmers Association in Guadalcanal, the support is helping farmers prepare for their longer-term goal of exporting cocoa products.
“Now we are working on building a warehouse as a storage place for cocoa beans in preparation for when we start exporting,” said Greg Leta, the association's treasurer.
Local farmer James Kogana said the project could improve livelihoods in rural communities.
“It will improve the livelihoods of our people here in the rural area. I believe this will benefit our families and children going into the future so I'm really happy,” he said.
Coconut production targeted
SIART has invested SBD5.2 million in 14 coconut-focused ABPOs — seven in Makira/Ulawa, four in Malaita and three in Guadalcanal.
The project has supported the rehabilitation of 771 hectares of coconut plantations and the construction or rehabilitation of 46 dryers.
The 14 ABPOs currently produce about 540 tonnes of copra from the rehabilitated area, with average production of about 700 kilograms per hectare.
Okekini said production could increase to 1.5 tonnes per hectare following rehabilitation.
Based on that estimate, the 771 hectares could produce about 1,157 tonnes of dried copra annually, an increase of about 617 tonnes, with an estimated value of SBD4.32 million at SBD7 per kilogram.
The coconut programme benefits 418 households and about 2,340 people.
Other support includes 11 nurseries producing 27,000 seedlings, 11 storage sheds, 46 hot-air dryers, equipment, training and SBD820,000 in working capital.
Piggery investment supports 3,000 people
SIART has committed SBD8.7 million to 20 piggery ABPOs, including 16 in Malaita, three in Guadalcanal and one in Makira/Ulawa.
The programme covers 532 households and about 3,000 people.
Support includes pig breeding facilities, breeding stock, feed, equipment and weaners, as well as grower sheds for individual farmers and ABPOs.
Okekini said 100 breeder sows supplied through the project could produce an estimated 2,400 weaners annually, worth about SBD1.92 million at SBD800 per weaner.
The project has also supplied 189 weaners to farmers for growing, with a potential value of SBD567,000 if sold at SBD3,000 each.
SIART has disbursed SBD902,000 to the 20 piggery ABPOs for the purchase of weaners and feed and to support their operations.
The project is also promoting locally produced feed through grants for feed-processing units, alongside training in feed formulation, animal health and quality production.
Environmental safeguards, including appropriate housing, waste management and animal welfare standards, are also required under the programme.
In Malaita, the GIF Piggery Farmers Association in Fa'arau Village in Central Kwara'ae received a SBD400,000 grant for a breeding and fattening shelter, improved breeding stock, tools and equipment, and a revolving working-capital fund.
Association member Tom Irosaea, who has farmed pigs for almost 40 years, said the community had long sought a dedicated breeding facility.
“Our community has been struggling for a long time to have a breeding shelter for our people. And we are so thankful to SIART for supporting us in achieving this dream,” Irosaea said.
In Gwaonaoa village, the Arise Rural Farm Community Company Ltd will receive SBD200,000 for a breeding shelter and storage house.
Chairman Anthony Aumae said the project would help improve production and provide a source of income for member families.
“For us the aim is to improve the pig farms of our members in terms of production,” Aumae said.
The SIART Project is scheduled to conclude in December 2026. It aims to increase agricultural production and improve market access in selected value chains across Guadalcanal, Malaita and Makira/Ulawa.
