World Bank proposes AgriConnect initiative for Solomon Islands
World Bank representatives have
highlighted an opportunity for Solomon Islands to benefit from AgriConnect, a
World Bank Group initiative designed to strengthen agricultural value chains
and support smallholder farmers to move from subsistence to surplus production.
World Bank Senior Agriculture Specialist, Mr Abimbola Adubi, presented the AgriConnect initiative in Honiara on Friday 17 July 2026 at the Heritage Park Hotel. The presentation was attended by the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Hon Franklyn Derek Wasi; Permanent Secretary Dr Samson Viulu; officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock; and representatives from the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC) and the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MOFT).
Mr Adubi was in Honiara leading a World Bank team for the seventh implementation support mission for the Solomon Islands Agriculture Rural Transformation (SIART) Project from 13–17 July 2026.
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The SIART Project is a World Bank-funded initiative implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL). It aims to boost agricultural production, improve market access, and build resilient rural livelihoods across Guadalcanal, Malaita, and Makira/Ulawa provinces.
The project, which is scheduled to end in December 2026, supports farmers and agri-entrepreneurs through structured Agribusiness Producer Organisations (ABPOs).
Building on the achievements of SIART and considering its sustainability beyond the project period, the World Bank is proposing the introduction of AgriConnect in Solomon Islands.
“In terms of sustainability and next steps, this is where the element of AgriConnect becomes very important,” Mr Adubi said.
He said the initiative could help enhance productivity, strengthen small and medium-scale agribusinesses, and support employment opportunities across the agriculture sector.
Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Hon Wasi, expressed his support for the discussions and reiterated the need to ensure continuity by building on the successes and achievements of the SIART Project.
“Similar to AgriConnect in Papua New Guinea, the initiative should include support to strengthen the commercial capacities of Agribusiness Producer Organisations so they can become bankable,” Hon Wasi said.
“Agriculture in Solomon Islands needs further support in economic infrastructure for value adding and post-harvest storage, reliable and affordable transport schemes, credit-worthiness for rural-based entrepreneurs, access to markets through farmer-market networks, and other areas,” the Minister said.
To date, the SIART Project has established and supported the operations of 96 Agribusiness Producer Organisations: 45 in Malaita Province, 32 in Guadalcanal Province, and 19 in Makira/Ulawa Province.
These achievements provide an opportunity to engage the private sector and explore how AgriConnect could support the next phase of agricultural transformation in Solomon Islands.
“We will not allow the good work done by SIART to stop when the project ends. We want to find a way to sustain it and attract private sector attention in line with the AgriConnect program,” Mr Adubi said.
The World Bank plans to hold a workshop on AgriConnect with key stakeholders, including the private sector, the Government, and value chain actors in Solomon Islands.
The workshop is expected to raise awareness and explore opportunities for private sector investment in agriculture, with the aim of creating jobs, improving productivity, and strengthening active value chains in Solomon Islands.
SIART Media Release
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