From Pineapples to Cocoa: World Bank Project Boosts Rural Farming in Guadalcanal

Rural communities in Guadalcanal Province are seeing tangible improvements in their livelihoods, thanks to the steady progress of the Solomon Islands Agriculture Rural Transformation (SIART) Project.

Funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), the project is strategically empowering local farmers by strengthening Agribusiness Producer Organizations (ABPOs), aiming to significantly increase agricultural production, improve market access, and bolster rural incomes.

Empowering Farmers Through Collaboration

The core of the SIART project's impact lies in its Agribusiness and Infrastructure Investment component, which facilitates the formation and support of ABPOs.

These groups comprising farmers and Agri-entrepreneurs work together to secure access to markets, financing, and essential support services, effectively helping individual farmers sell more products and increase their farm production.

SIART Project Manager, William Okekini, emphasized the objective behind the grants.

 "The objective behind the ABPO Grants is to increase the production capacity and income of smallholder farmers in high-value crops, food crops, feed crops and small livestock.

“This intervention targets the vulnerable communities for agricultural production aiming to contribute to the objective of enhanced agricultural production, import substitution, and increased export.”

Sweet Success with Pineapples in East Central Guadalcanal

In the east central Guadalcanal village of Gheghede, the project is delivering direct benefits to pineapple farmers.

The Atunoda Family Farmers Association, which boasts over 30 member households, is a prime example.

The community is already renowned for its high-volume pineapple production, with each household harvesting between 700 to 1,000 pineapples per cycle, earning SBD4,000 to SBD5,000.

The SIART project is now partnering with the association to dramatically enhance their processing capacity.

This includes the construction of a dedicated pineapple processing shed worth approximately SBD196,106, complemented by an additional SBD24,500 to purchase a modern processing machine.

This investment is set to transform the way the community handles its high-value crop, moving them from raw production toward value-adding activities.

Boosting Quality and Yield for Cocoa Farmers

Further north, the Matepono Farmers Association is receiving substantial support to elevate their cocoa operation. 

A SBD400,000 grant is specifically designed to help local cocoa farmers increase the production and marketing of their dry cocoa beans.

The goal is ambitious: to increase cocoa yield per tree and the association’s overall production by the end of 2025.

Crucially, the grant will fund the construction of four standard cocoa processing units and provide financial literacy training.

This targeted intervention is projected to result in a 10% increase in quantity and a 15% improvement in the quality of dried cocoa beans by 2026, securing better returns for Matepono's farmers in the global market.

A Growing Movement Across the Provinces

Guadalcanal Province is home to 32 ABPOs, engaged in diverse agricultural sectors including cocoa, coconut, coffee, fruits, spices, piggery, poultry, root crops, and vegetables.

The MAL-SIART team strengthens these organizations by assisting them with formal registration under the cooperative society act or community company, establishing bank accounts, and preparing comprehensive business plans necessary to access project grants.

The impact extends beyond Guadalcanal. So far, a total of 96 ABPOs across three provinces—Guadalcanal, Malaita (45 ABPOs), and Makira/Ulawa (19 ABPOs) have signed grant agreements, representing a total investment of SBD37.75 million.

The funds are utilized for critical needs such as training, administration, transport, and operational costs, laying a strong foundation for sustained agricultural commercialization and improved rural well-being.