World Bank reviews agricultural projects in Solomon Islands

World Bank Resident Representative Bernard Harborne recently visited several agricultural projects in Guadalcanal Province to review the progress of the Solomon Islands Agriculture Rural Transformation (SIART) Project. The initiative, funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, supports Agribusiness Producer Organizations (ABPOs) to enhance rural livelihoods.

During the visit, Harborne met with members of the Taubebe Cocoa Farmers Association, the Momolu Cocoa Farmers Association, and the Gold Ridge Women Farmers’ Poultry project. These groups utilize SIART support for revolving funds, plantation rehabilitation, facility construction, and capacity building. Solomon Tobana, Chairman of the Taubebe Cocoa Association, noted that the association is already seeing benefits, including profits from its revolving fund and the construction of an office building.

To date, SIART has signed agreements with 96 ABPOs across the Solomon Islands, including 32 in Guadalcanal, 45 in Malaita, and 19 in Makira/Ulawa provinces. The projects include infrastructure such as cocoa fermentaries, driers, and poultry houses to boost local production and processing capabilities.