Solomon Islands rice trials enter final stage ahead of harvest

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD) has entered the final field trial stage for two rice varieties, MAL 1 and MAL 2. The harvest is scheduled to begin next Monday.

Supported by experts from the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Science (JAAS) in China, the research initiative aims to identify rice strains that are resilient and suitable for the local environmental and farming conditions of the Solomon Islands. During the trial, technical officers and JAAS specialists conducted weed management, pest and disease monitoring, irrigation management, and agronomic observations to track productivity.

MALD Deputy Secretary Technical Michael Ho’ota stated that the upcoming harvest will allow officials to determine the production yield per hectare. Following the harvest, the rice will undergo threshing, drying, and milling, followed by taste-testing and quality assessments to evaluate its suitability for local consumption and wider cultivation.