SIART Project invests millions in Solomon Islands agribusiness

The Solomon Islands Agriculture Rural Transformation (SIART) Project, a World Bank-funded initiative, is investing heavily in agribusiness to transition subsistence farming into commercial operations.

In the livestock sector, SIART has invested $8.7 million into 20 Agribusiness Producer Organisations (ABPOs) to support community pig farming. This initiative spans Malaita, Guadalcanal, and Makira/Ulawa provinces, benefiting approximately 532 households and an estimated 3,000 community members. The investment includes the establishment of breeding facilities, equipment, and the distribution of weaners. Project Manager William Okekini noted that the 100 breeder sows provided could produce 2,400 weaners annually, with a potential value of $1.92 million.

Simultaneously, the project is targeting coconut production through a $5.2 million investment in 14 ABPOs across the same three provinces. SIART has rehabilitated 771 hectares of coconut plantations and supported the construction or rehabilitation of 46 driers. This rehabilitation is expected to increase copra production from 700kg per hectare to 1.5 tons per hectare, potentially generating $4.32 million per annum. The coconut initiative supports 418 households and reaches up to 2,340 beneficiaries.