SIART’s achievements highlighted during World Bank mission

The Solomon Islands Agriculture Rural Transformation (SIART) Project has made significant impacts in terms of boosting agricultural production and build resilient rural livelihoods across Guadalcanal, Malaita and Makira/Ulawa Provinces.

This was highlighted during the World Bank’s seventh implementation support mission to Honiara for the SIART Project from 13 – 17 July, 2026.

Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Franklyn Derek Wasi, World Bank’s Senior Agriculture Specialist, Abimbola Adubi, senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and representatives from the SIART Project.

The SIART Project is a World Bank funded initiative implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL).

The World Bank team was led by Abimbola Adubi, Senior Agriculture Specialist and Task Team Leader (TTL) and Allan Oliver, Senior Agriculture Specialist and the Administration and Client Services Support staff in the Honiara Country Office.

The key objectives of the mission were to assess the progress of all key project activities under Component 1: Agribusiness and Infrastructure Investments; and Component 2: Institutional Capacity Development to ensure the implementation plans are on track before the project closure on December 31, 2026.

The mission presented an opportunity for representatives from the World Bank and the SIART Project to discuss the procurement, financial management and environment and social safeguards action plan to bring them to satisfactory status and review the data collection arrangements and the management information system roll out for the project.

World Bank’s Senior Agriculture Specialist, Abimbola Adubi who led the seventh implementation support mission to Honiara for the SIART Project from 13 – 17 July, 2026.

The findings of the mission were also discussed with the Solomon Islands Government.

Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Franklyn Derek Wasi said as the SIART Project draws closer to its conclusion, he is pleased to note the steadfast progress SIART has made over the last year.

“It is our strong view that the World Bank funded SIART project has left a positive legacy in the agriculture development in Solomon Islands,” the Minister said.

In terms of infrastructure development, the SIART Project is supporting the construction of the two new modern agriculture office buildings in Auki, Malaita Province and Kirakira, Makira/Ulawa Province, Renovation of MAL’s Research Headquarter, slaughter facility and piggery shelter at King George east of Honiara and the detailed design of the MAL Research Centre for Excellence at Tenaru.

The World Bank mission meeting with the SIART Project team and Government representatives. This provided the opportunity for the SIART Project Manager, William Okekini to present an update on the project’s progress and achievements. 

The Project has also supported the establishment of a total of 96 Agribusiness Producer Organisations (ABPOs), 45 in Malaita Province, 32 in Guadalcanal Province, 19 in Makira/Ulawa Province, representing more than SBD35 million investment in grant support.

SIART has recruited and trained more than 40 young professionals as junior extension officers. These graduates support local farmers, strengthen provincial offices, and build sustainable agribusiness skills. Apart from gaining valuable exposure to the agricultural sector, SIART also provides these young professionals with the long-term goal of creating opportunities for full-time employment with MAL.

World Bank’s Mr. Adubi acknowledges the significant progress SIART has made since the start of the project while encouraging the Project Management Unit (PMU) to continue its good work in ensuring a smooth transition as the project finishes at the end of this year.

Discussions are ongoing in terms of the sustainability of the achievements of SIART going into the future and the successful implementation of all remaining project components.

SIART Project Manager, Mr. William Okekini while presenting updates on the implementation of the different components of the project reassured that SIART is on track in achieving its development objectives before the closing of the project.

“On behalf of the project team, we acknowledge the World Bank and MAL for your continuous support and confidence entrusted on the team to deliver positive outcomes for our rural farmers,” he said.

SIART centers on supporting farmers and agri-entrepreneurs through structured Agribusiness Producer Organizations (ABPOs).

Its key current activities include ABPO Grants, providing financial grants and vital agricultural equipment to help rural farmers transition from subsistence farming to commercial agribusiness.

SIART also has Young Professionals (YP) Program, recruiting young local professionals as junior extension officers to assist ABPOs in implementing business plans, managing finances, and monitoring progress.

In terms of capacity building for local farms, SIART has conducted numerous targeted trainings in collaboration with specialists from MAL.

-      Media Release | SIART