From Farm Field to First Bottle: Gheghede Farmers Turn Pineapples into Profitable Agribusiness

For years, pineapple farmers in the highlands of East Central Guadalcanal faced a difficult reality.

After harvesting their produce, they endured long and costly journeys to Honiara, often sleeping overnight at the Honiara Central Market while waiting to sell their pineapples before making the trip back home.

Today, that story is changing.

The Atunoda Family Farmers Association acknowledges the partnership between MAL and the World Bank through the SIART Project for choosing the pineapple farmers of Gheghede village as one of the recipients of funding support.

A group of determined farmers from Gheghede village have taken a major step towards transforming their livelihoods, celebrating the production of their first bottles of locally processed pineapple juice through their newly established agribusiness venture.

The achievement marks a significant milestone for the Atunoda Family Farmers Association, a community-based organization made up of 30 smallholder farmers, who have received support through the Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation (SIART) Project.

Funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), the SIART Project aims to increase agricultural production, improve market access, and strengthen economic resilience in Guadalcanal, Malaita and Makira-Ulawa provinces.

For the farmers of Gheghede, support has opened the door to a new way of doing business.

Turning Challenges into Opportunities

Located in the Aola Ward of East Central Guadalcanal, Gheghede is well known for producing sweet pineapples that supply Honiara markets. However, the village's remote location and poor road conditions have long limited farmers' access to buyers.

Women and children are very supportive of their farmers’ association. Pictured here in their processing shed with their pineapple processing machined supported by the SIART Project.

Recognising these challenges, local farmers formed the Atunoda Family Farmers Association and sought assistance to create value from their pineapple production closer to home.

Through SIART support, the association recently completed a pineapple processing shed valued at SBD196,106 and received a pineapple processing machine worth SBD24,500.

The new facility allows farmers to process pineapples directly in the village, eliminating the need to transport large volumes of fresh fruit to Honiara and creating opportunities to earn more from value-added products.

"By venturing into this form of agribusiness, we are working together to improve our livelihoods in the village," said Association Chairman Gideon Kilua.

A Historic First Production

Excitement filled the village in June 2026 when members of the association successfully produced their first bottles of pineapple juice during a SIART-sponsored Pineapple Processing and Food Safety Training.

The training was facilitated by a Food Technician from MAL's Research Department and attracted strong participation from farmers, including women and young people eager to learn new skills.

The pineapple processing shed in Gheghede village supported by the SIART Project.

For Gideon and fellow farmers, seeing the first bottles come off the production line was a powerful moment.

"The first production from our processing facility is a green light for us. It gives us assurance that we can earn a profit from producing pineapple juice in our village," he said.

The results were encouraging. Using just 20 pineapples during the training, the group produced more than 60 bottles of juice in less than an hour.

The numbers show strong potential.

"In Honiara, we get around SBD200 for 20 pineapple fruits, but then we have to pay for transport and market fees," Gideon explained.

"We can earn more if we sell the juice at SBD5 per bottle in surrounding communities and nearby schools. We are also looking for clients and shops in Honiara."

Creating Lasting Benefits for Farmers

The Atunoda Family Farmers Association is among 32 Agribusiness Producer Organizations (ABPOs) in Guadalcanal Province that have received grant funding through SIART.

In addition to infrastructure and equipment, the project has provided working capital to help the association purchase pineapples from local growers and operate the business.

Instead of travelling to Honiara, farmers can now sell their produce directly to the processing facility within the village.

"Farmers will just bring their pineapples to us and we pay them, saving them the expenses of travelling to Honiara," Gideon said.

Their remoteness and the bad road conditions means accessing Honiara’s markets remains a challenge for pineapple farmers in Gheghede village, in east central Guadalcanal.

The initiative is proving especially beneficial for elderly community members, women and children who often face the greatest difficulties with transportation and market access.

Pineapple farming remains the primary source of income for many families in Gheghede, with some farmers producing as many as 2,000 pineapples annually.

"With this support from the SIART Project, it has boosted pineapple farming. Our women and children are very happy, and they are helping to produce more pineapples and farms," Gideon said.

Income from pineapple sales helps families pay school fees, meet household expenses and access healthcare when needed.

The association also plans to purchase an additional processing machine in the future to expand production and ensure the agribusiness remains sustainable for generations to come.

Beyond creating market opportunities, the processing facility is generating paid employment for villagers involved in juice production and other processing activities.

Empowering Women and Strengthening Communities

For women in Gheghede, the project represents more than just a new business opportunity. It brings relief from years of hardship associated with transporting produce to the capital.

"It will benefit us a lot," said Heslyn Tarimana, a pineapple farmer and member of the association.

"This project will help us overcome the challenges we always face when taking our pineapples to Honiara."

Heslyn recalled the long and often exhausting trips to the city.

Women in Gheghede village are actively involved with pineapple farming and welcomes the new project in their village which will ease some of the challenges faced with marketing their produces.

"Most times we sleep at the Central Market in Honiara when we still have pineapples to sell or when finding transport back to the village is difficult," she said.

"Now that this project has come to us, we plant here in the village, harvest and at the same time sell our pineapples in the village."

She expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the World Bank through the SIART Project for supporting the people of Gheghede.

"It is our long-time cry for such a project to reach our village and help us with economic activities in the village," Heslyn said.

"To support us in terms of education and meeting household needs. Now that we can earn money in the village, it will also enable us to save money for other family and community commitments."

A Brighter Future Ahead

With a modern processing facility, new equipment, financial support and the skills gained through training, the farmers of Gheghede are now looking beyond simply growing pineapples.

Gheghede village is known for producing large number of pineapples. And they are one of the main suppliers of sweet pineapples for Honiara.

They are building a community-owned agribusiness that creates value locally, generates income, strengthens food processing skills and improves the wellbeing of families across the village.

What began as a response to market access challenges has evolved into a promising rural enterprise, proving that with the right support, smallholder farmers can transform local produce into profitable business opportunities.

For the people of Gheghede, the first bottle of pineapple juice is more than a product. It is a symbol of resilience, innovation and a brighter future for their community.

Media Release | SIART