MAL and SIART Program Empowers ABPO to Boost Rural Economy Through Sustainable Cocoa Farming.

North Malaita – Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation (SIART) Program newly established Agri-Business and Producer Organization (ABPO) know as Green Ag Farm Community Company has slowing touching life of farmers through cocoa farming activities. The ABPO registered with aims to build the capacity of farmers in sustainable agriculture practices, increase earning and benefits from products and improve standard of living through cocoa farming.

The producer organisation was established in Ward 9, North Malaita and current serve more than 55 members from nearby villages including: Tabaa, Gwaunasuu, Fiuki, Tafunaama, Foufiolo, Makokoa, Kwene, Cana and Ainikweikwei had joined and participate in the cocoa activity.

With funding from the World Bank funded SIART Program and coordinated through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), the cocoa farming activity has injected more than SBD 150,000 into ABPO’s cocoa farming and business activities for a period of one month through sales of dry cocoa beans. This financial support has enabled ABPO to expand its operations, support farmer training, and rehabilitate cocoa plantations.

The newly establish company which now started selling its cocoa produce to the Commodities Export and Marketing Authority (CEMA), had started contributing to rural economy as farmers begin to generate income through cocoa agricultural activities. The partnership with CEMA ensures that ABPO farmers have a stable buyer and can focus on improving the quality and quantity of their cocoa beans.

ABPO representative, say they are optimistic about the outcome of the current grant activities. “We are hopeful that within the next 24 months, production and earning will increase as our cocoa training and rehabilitation programs begin to show results and farmers continue to work together under the ABPO platform,” said Willam Abuinao.

Speaking to Malaita Issue on behave of the farmers, Mr Abuinao urge rural resources owner to see the real value of what our tribal land and resources has host and utilise time to ensure land are utilise to benefit the tribe (communities), the province and the government. Rural Solomon Islanders including Malaitans cannot left our various rural reach resource land and travel to Honiara and urban area in search for opportunities. Given the level of our capacity, our best and number one option is for us to utilise our rural resources in farming and fishing.

I think if we organise ourselves, we can achieve more by utilising our resources. It is also important for those who attend Western introduce education to spare sometime and helping our rural people, this is because rural people does not have the ability to deal and engage constructively with partners such the govt and donors. Therefore, the support of resources people to our tribes are crucial.

World Bank through SIART Program implemented by MAL support farmers to rehabilitation of driers, rehabilitate cocoa farms, plant new cocoa, establish nursery, buy and process cocoa and provide training on cocoa management radical pruning, grafting, shade management, processing, and rehabilitate cocoa plantations.

The ABPO representative acknowledge, the Government, Donor (World Bank) and the State own Enterprise (SOE) provided to the rural people in Ward 9, North Malaita and other farmers in Guadalcanal and Makira.

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