Friday 20 February, Honiara – The Solomon Islands Agriculture Rural Transformation (SIART) Project successfully conducted a weeklong training workshop for its Young Professionals (YPs) in Malaita Province from 9 to 13 February 2026 at the provincial capital, Auki.
The YPs, who serve as junior agricultural extension officers in the provinces, were trained in data collection using tablets to meet the project’s Management Information Systems’ requirements, as well as managing and working with Agribusiness Producer Organisations (ABPOs) in rural settings.
A total of eighteen (18) YPs serving in different regions around Malaita Province attended the training workshop as SIART continues with its efforts to significantly boost the capacity of provincial agriculture offices to support ABPOs development, business plan implementation, recordkeeping, and grant monitoring.
Additional training also included project work planning, tracking the implementation of activities, providing support to ABPOs, preparation of ABPO acquittals, and reporting on activity milestones.
Following the classroom-based training, the YPs participated in field-based practical sessions focused on collecting data from ABPOs in Malaita Province.
This week, a finance team from the SIART Project Management Unit is in Auki to conduct further training for the YPs focused on record keeping, basic financial management, and marketing.
SIART’s Project Manager Mr William Okekini said that these trainings aim to enhance the capacity of YPs to implement, monitor, and report on project activities, to have a clear understanding of performance expectations and accountability mechanisms and strengthen the ability of the team to use the Monitoring and Evaluation system for effective project management.
Mr Okekini also encouraged the YPs to remain committed to their role in working with ABPOs in their respective areas as the new generation of trained agriculture workers for the Ministry of Agriculture and Solomon Islands as a whole.
“You represent the SIART Project and the Ministry of Agriculture in the communities, as such, it is important for you as young professionals to carry out your work diligently with professionalism in tracking the progress of our ABPOs and assuring they deliver as expected,” Mr Okekini told the YPs in Auki.
Speaking on behalf of the YPs, Ms Ruth Maeabulo, who works with five ABPOs in West Kwaio, acknowledged the SIART Project for the continuous support in ensuring YPs in the provinces are well equipped with the tools and knowledge to carry out their work.
“These trainings are not only beneficial for us Young Professionals but also for the local farmers and communities as we will also share what we have learnt with members of the ABPOs we work with,” she said.
A team from SIART is travelling to Kirakira over the weekend to conduct similar trainings for YPs in Makira/Ulawa Province. Trainings for YPs in Guadalcanal Province were completed earlier in February 2026.
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 the Ministry of Agriculture.
The SIART Project’s objective is to increase agricultural production and improve market access in selected value chains in Guadalcanal, Malaita, and Makira/Ulawa. Additionally, the project ensures a prompt and effective response in the event of an Eligible Crisis or Emergency.
The Project is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and supported by the World Bank.
