Tuesday 24 February, Honiara – Pig farmers in Malaita Province have expressed appreciation for support provided through the Solomon Islands Agriculture Rural Transformation (SIART) Project aimed at enhancing agricultural sustainability and livelihoods.
The SIART Project is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and supported by the World Bank to increase agricultural production and improve market access.
The project includes the development of pig slaughter facilities and breeding programs for local farmers and communities who are part of Agribusiness Producer Organizations (ABPOs) established by the SIART Project in Guadalcanal, Malaita and Makira/Ulawa Province.
In Malaita Province, sustainable community pig farming projects supported by SIART will improve livelihoods by allowing farmers to produce healthier pigs, which increases income for education and household necessities.
“Our community has been struggling for a long time to have a breeding shelter for our people. And we are so thankful to SIART for supporting us in achieving this dream,” said Tom Irosaea from Fa’arau Village in Central Kwara’ae.
Mr Irosaea, has been a pig farmer for almost 40 years, and is now a member of the GIF Piggery Farmers Association, made up local farmers in and around Fa’arau village who involve in pig breeding and fattening.
The GIF Piggery Farmers Association will benefit from a $400,000 grant from the SIART Project that includes the construction of a breeding and fattening shelter, improvement of breeding stock, tools and equipment and a working capital revolving fund for members of the association to purchase stock and feed.
SIART is also providing refresher training for local farmers on pig husbandry and animal health and financial literacy training to enable the association to manage their ABPO.
In Fa’arau village, the association’s breeding shelter is already taking shape and Mr Irosaea is confident they will complete it by the end of this year. The breeding shelter will house up to 25 sows for breeding.
“This is the future for our community,” he said.
“Farmers within our community have their own pig houses. What will happen is from our new breeding facility we will supply our farmers with piglets and we will also provide them with feeds,” he explained.
When the pigs are ready for market after four to five months, the Association facilitates with potential buyers. The square money from sales goes back to the Association while the profit goes to individual farmers.
“This will really benefit our community as from my experience operating a piggery business is really profitable,’ Mr Irosaea said.
Currently the GIF Piggery Farmers Association has around 60 members and 37 of them are already involved in piggery.
“That is the reason why we are building is big breeding shelter so that the whole community is involved in this project and we hope our community will prosper going into the future,” Mr Irosaea said.
In Gwaonaoa village, Chairman Mr Anthony Aumae leads the Arise Rural Farm Community Company Limited, a group consisting of local farmers from closed extended family members.
“For us the aim is to improve the pig farms of our members in terms of production,” Mr Aumae said.
He described the support received from SIART as the way forward for local farmers to benefit.
Pig farmers in Gwaonaoa village through their association will receive a $200,000 grant from SIART for a breeding shelter and storage house.
“This is mainly for the livelihoods of our families. Because at the moment our members find it quite difficult to earn some income for their families.
“This approach by SIART will be effective with time and patience and all our members are really happy to be involved in this project,” Mr Aumae said.
Farmers in Gwaonaoa village have been involved in the production and rearing of pigs on semi-intensive, where each family unit have their own pig housing and sell to the public as far as to Honiara.
SIART currently has 16 ABPOs in Malaita Province involving in piggery farming representing a $6.99 million investment.
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.
