The Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Hon. Franklyn Derek Wasi, has officially handed over project materials to Chief Field Officers and OICs representing the (9) provinces under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development’s (MALD) Cocoa and Coconut Development Support Programme 2025, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to revitalising two of Solomon Islands’ most important agricultural export commodities.
The handover marks the beginning of the distribution of project support to successful farmers across the provinces who have been approved under the Cocoa and Coconut Development Support Programme.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Minister Wasi said the initiative demonstrates the Government’s continued investment in strengthening the cocoa and coconut sectors, which remain vital to rural livelihoods and the national economy.
“The Government recognises the important contribution cocoa and coconut farmers make to our economy and to the wellbeing of rural communities. Through this programme, we are providing practical support that will enable farmers to rehabilitate their farms, increase production and improve household incomes,” he said.
The Minister encouraged provincial agriculture officers to ensure that the materials are delivered promptly and transparently to the approved beneficiaries and urged farmers to maximise the opportunities provided through the programme.
The project materials are being supplied under several categories of support, including tools and equipment for coconut rehabilitation and replanting, cocoa rehabilitation and replanting, nursery establishment, as well as productive infrastructure such as cocoa and copra dryers, storage sheds for cocoa and copra.
Andrew Melanolu MALD Extension Department Director, acknowledged that the delivery of materials has taken longer than expected due to procurement and supply chain challenges.
“The supply of materials has been slower because our preferred supplier has been ordering in bulk while also supplying constituency projects through the Ministry of Rural Development. However, the handover today confirms that the materials are now ready for distribution to farmers through our provincial offices.”
Mr Melanolu said the Ministry is working to freight all remaining project materials to the provinces and expects deliveries to be completed before the end of July.
He noted that Makira-Ulawa, Guadalcanal and Malaita Provinces will receive the largest allocation of project materials because they remain the country’s leading cocoa and copra producing provinces.
“We want to assure farmers that they will receive their materials, we also want recipients to use the support provided for its intended purpose. Farmers receiving sheds and dryers must ensure these facilities are constructed and used properly, while those receiving tools and equipment should utilise them to improve farm productivity. There are significant financial benefits attached to these projects when they are fully completed and managed well,” he said.
Mr Melanolu said the Cocoa and Coconut Development Support Programme is designed to support rehabilitation of existing farms while strengthening the entire value chain through improved infrastructure, planting materials, extension services and farmer support.
Under the programme, the Ministry aims to rehabilitate approximately 11.5 million cocoa trees by 2029 through Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) while also replanting 28,800 hectares of ageing coconut plantations over the next ten years using improved planting materials.
These investments are expected to significantly increase cocoa and copra production, strengthen rural livelihoods and generate higher export earnings for Solomon Islands.
MALD remains committed to working closely with provincial governments, extension officers and farming communities to ensure the successful implementation of the Cocoa and Coconut Development Support Programme and to build a stronger, more productive and sustainable cocoa and coconut industry for future generations.
