The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD), through the European Union-funded Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Sustainable Transformation of Domestic Agrifood Systems (STODAS) project, has paid a courtesy call to the Malaita Provincial Secretary, Mr. Eric George, ahead of a major agrifood systems workshop scheduled for May 13, 2026.
The STODAS team, under the component Strengthening Provincial Food Councils and Agrifood Public/Private Partnership (PPP) initiative, was led by Deputy Director (Supervising) of the MALD Planning and Management, Jules Damutalau, included Deputy Director (Supervising) Extension Department, Michael Tanisapa, Chief Field Officer Malaita Province, Frank Omelanga, and Media Officer, Ben Rakai.
The meeting introduced the Provincial Secretary to upcoming project activities in Malaita Province, which aim to strengthen agrifood systems, foster collaboration among stakeholders, and establish a provincial food council alongside an agri-food public-private partnership (PPP) model to drive domestic agri-food systems that targeted sustainable economic growth.
Mr. George welcomed the initiative, noting its alignment with the Malaita Economic, Cooperation and Transformative Government (MECTG) framework.
“Agriculture is the number one key priority for Malaita under our transformative policies. We welcome initiatives like STODAS that are geared towards fully utilizing our resources to benefit our people and grow our economy,” said Mr. George.
Ahead of the workshop, the STODAS project team has already engaged in consultations with institutions such as Kulifi Hospital, Auki Correctional Service, farmers at the Auki Central Market, and private sector stakeholders. These consultations will continue with identified communities and schools across the province to ensure inclusive participation and broad stakeholder input.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Mr. Damutalau emphasized the importance of partnership:
“Our goal is to work hand-in-hand with provincial authorities, farmers, and private sector partners to set up a model that could transform agrifood systems. Malaita’s strong commitment to agriculture makes it an ideal province to lead this transformation.”
The upcoming workshop will bring together relevant actors in Malaita’s agrifood systems to discuss challenges, share insights, and identify strategies for strengthening the sector.
The STODAS project’s engagement in Malaita marks a significant step in advancing agrifood system transformation in the Solomon Islands, with similar activities scheduled for Temotu, Makira Ulawa, Choiseul, and Western Provinces.
By aligning with provincial priorities and fostering inclusive partnerships, the initiative aims to unlock the full potential of agriculture as a driver of food security, livelihoods, a healthy population and economic growth.
