THE COVID-19 pandemic is putting the world on a crisis footing with unprecedented actions to restrict movements causing disruptions to productions affecting, amongst other things, food supply around the globe. And as countries braced themselves to protect their citizens from the deadly disease they are now faced with imminent recession and a global famine is predicted by the World Food Organisation (WFO) of the United Nation and the countries that depend on imported food are the most vulnerable. And so given the status of global food suppliers, export restrictions are unwarranted and will hurt food security in importing dependent countries.

 As Solomon Island is highly depended on imported food, the Government fear the potential food shortage impacting lives of urban and rural population who depend on rice and now has as one of its priority preparations plan the production of local production food, especially root crops for this looming food shortage.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) therefore is taking no chances and are working very hard to ensure this country increase its local food stock with plans to invest on mass production of root crops.

Recently MAL Permanent Secretary Ethel Tebengi Frances and Undersecretary Michael Ho’ota signed an SBD 2.7 Million funding agreement with the management of SAPE Farm representative Dr Paul Bosawai Popora as the first partner to support the government with this objective.

“While funding may be an important factor, finding the right partner who can deliver is the key to achieving this government targets,” Mrs Frances said. In such times it is an important decision because we cannot afford to be making mistakes with how we as a government agency direct government investments through our people. Mrs Frances went on to explain that “the government want to ensure we have local food stock ready and so it is our duty to ensure that happens yet production is not the role of MAL; it only facilitate and support production through our people in the country”. The Permanent Secretary is very confident that Dr Paul and his team will deliver.

Dr Paul vision is to farm root crops so he can ensure we have access to local fresh food as a way of fighting Non Communicable Diseases that is killing our people every week. The Permanent Secretary said that “she was impressed with Dr Paul visions which is reflected in the amount of investment he already put into his cassava and potato farming”. Sape Farm started in 2018 and right now they have a tractor and already planted 2 hectares of cassava and 4 hectares of potatoes and had been selling to the Hospital, SINU and JQY (for his animal feed). The family has 200 hectares of registered land with 160 hectares available for cultivation.

‘Sape Farm was identified by MAL last year for support to develop their farm to commercial cassava production and discussions were along the lines of cassava production for export. With the need to increase local food stock, it is just good timing”, said Mrs Frances.

The Permanent Secretary said that supporting our own people to participate in economic activities and improve their lives and those around them is the role of the government and MAL is happy to do that on behave of the Government. The Permanent Secretary said that it is her vision to support our own Solomon Islanders who have the potential do commercial agriculture so we take control of our own economic growth.

The Support Agreement signed between MAL and Sape Farm is a supply and value add package that will ensure Sape Farm are able to do mass farming of cassava and potato, process, package, store and distribute to outlets around in Honiara and also for export.  Agreement with Sape Farm also is for them to support farmers it can feasibly reach through contract farming so other family household have the chance to earn money for themselves.

The Permanent Secretary explained that funding support will cater for farming machineries and tools, processing and refrigeration machines and working capital.

Meanwhile Dr. Bosawai Popora on behalf of SAPE farm thank the government through the MAL for recognizing them through the partnership.

“I am excited indeed. This is the beginning of a milestone investment from the government through the ministry of agriculture supporting us SAPE farmers to shift from the normal subsistence farming into a more commercial way of food production.”

“I am very happy after signing this contract and very much looking forward for better results.”

Dr. Bosawai Popora highlighted that SAPE farm already have 200 hectares of registered land.

 “We have committed in the contract to farm 40 hectares, 20 hectares for cassava and 20 hectares for patato but that is only for the contract. We have 160 hectares of land available for further expansions.”

The Ministry is now progressing discussions with St.Martin, Don Bosco, Tenaru and Selwyn as part of its local food production program and is hoping to sign contracts soon. The Permanent Secretary said that they are focusing on schools as partners because they each have large portion of land registered under their authorities so easier to deal with such investment now with those already have land available for mass production

The ministry is hoping to create up to 300 jobs or more through this program and will be expecting more jobs as it roll out similar program to the provinces.

Further work on meat production is being progressed as well and contracts will be signed soon.

–MAL PRESS

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands’ effort to remain a covid-19 free nation has been boosted with $71 million assistance from the Australian government.

This was made possible after Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele and Australia High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Dr Lachlan Strahan signed a funding agreement in Cabinet yesterday.

Minister Manele said the budget support provided by Australia we have witnessed today will greatly assist the Solomon Islands Government to meet some of its COVID-19 preparedness and response activities, and assist with managing the social and economic impact faced by Solomon Islands due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He said the Health Sector COVID-19 response, with amount equivalent to AUD8 million (approximately SBD43.7 million), this will include support the isolation and quarantine infrastructure requirements, logistics, medical equipment, personal protection equipment, laboratory equipment including COVID testing kits, water and sanitation projects, surge personal or technical assistance in Honiara and throughout the provinces.

Manele said for the government’s Economic Stimulus COVID-19 Response Plan, with an amount equivalent to AUD 5 million (approximately SBD27.3 million), this will support the government’s Economic stimulus package launched this week.

“We would like to see labour mobility support be boosted and invest in equipping Solomon Islands National University to train semi-skilled workers to enter the Pacific Labour scheme.

“More projects labour intensive infrastructure projects in the rural areas and people centred economic activities in the provinces would be targeted,” he said.

Manele said Australia’s SBD $71 million COVID-19 Assistance package to Solomon Islands symbolises our two countries strong friendship and mutually beneficial relationship that both our two countries and peoples have enjoyed over the years.

“Though the support provided is specifically in response to COVID-19, I understand Australia’s ongoing support and commitment to assist us in meeting our national development goals under its bilateral programme remain.

“For this, I want to register my deep appreciation to Australia for its unwavering support,” he said.

“Excellency, rest assured, your government’s budget support towards our COVID-19 response will towards the two areas mention earlier and as agreed by our countries.

“I would also like to reiterate that we are committed in ensuring good governance practices are in place as well as adhering to the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness principles,” he added.

Minister of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma, Minister of Health and Medical Services, Dickson Mua, their permanent secretaries, McKinnie Dentana, Pauline McNeil, Collin Beck of Foreign Affairs, Secretary to Prime Minister, Dr Jimmy Rodgers and officials have witnessed the signing.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE $71 million funding assistance provided by Australia Government will be kept in a separate account, says Minister of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma.

The budget support will see $44 million go toward the Health sector covid-19 response and $27 million for the Government’s Economic Stimulus Covid-19 Response Plan.

Media raised the question in the press conference following Australia’s support towards the health sector in the past were misused by public officers through inflated contracts.

One good example was the $10 million ($1.5 million AUD) scandal in the Ministry of Health and Medical Services in 2013 where eight public servants were charged for fraud.

The $10 million funding came under the Health Sector Support Programme funded by AusAID.

The Solomon Star has alleged that the irregularities were detected in transactions relating to the funding during routine risk assessment activities undertaken by the country’s Ministry of Finance.

It is alleged that contractors grossly inflated freight service charges and shipping charters for the project.

The contractors were allegedly from middle-man companies and charged around three to four times the normal price.

Minister Kuma said the ministry is setting up a separate bank account to keep COVID-19 related funding including the Australia funding.

Minister of Health and Medical Services, Dickson Mua said the $44 million will support the isolation and quarantine infrastructure requirements, logistics, medical equipment, personal protection equipment, laboratory equipment including COVID testing kits, water and sanitation projects, surge personal or technical assistance in Honiara and throughout the provinces.

Mua said the ministry want to improve the capacity of the provincial hospitals and church hospital to prepare for the COVID-19.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SEVEN women were among the ten recipients in Honiara that received free vegetables seedlings from Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock on Wednesday 6th May.

The ten recipients represent three households in East Honiara, three in West Honiara and four from Central Honiara.

Each recipient received a total of 60 seedlings which include 20 seeds of pakchoi, 20 seeds of saladeer and 20 seeds of choisum.

As such, a total of 600 seedlings were given out on the day.

Newly appointed Minister of MAL, Senley Levi Filualea was at hand to deliver the seedlings to the recipients.

Filualea said this indicated the Democratic Coalition for Change Advancement (DCGA) Government’s commitment to help farmers in Honiara.

He said there is also a plan to extend the same initiative to the provinces through consultation with staff in the ministry.

Furthermore, the even though the coronavirus brings negative impact, it also comes with opportunities where the government sees the importance of agriculture.

His Permanent Secretary, Ethel Frances supported the sentiment saying the initiative will address food security in the country.

She said there are a lot of families who have struggle; as such this initiative will really help them.

The Agriculture research team at the National Agriculture and Livestock Research Development Center (NARLDC) at old Taiwanese Technical farm opposite KGVI School supplied the seedlings from their mass nursery production.

The NARLDC team under the Ministry of agriculture and Livestock is mandated by the National Disaster Organising Committee Livelihood committee to carry out the task to ensure food supply (Vegetables) for Honiara is maintained even when in a lock-down situation due to COVID-19.

Chief Research Officer Maria Ghasuka said the nursery started in April 2 where they planted the seeds.

Mrs Ghasuka said they targeted 20 households in Honiara but the demands has increased and will do mass production of 8000 seedlings.

She said they need time and resources to produce the nursery and need space for extension as well for the nursery house.

“We also need money to employ casual workers to work in the nursery,” she said.

Mrs Ghasuka said the seedlings given out are already three weeks old and needs another three weeks before they are harvested by the families.

One of the recipients, Julia Maniadalo who has a backyard vegetables beds behind her home at Bishop Eppale in West Honiara, thanked the government for the initiative.

Mrs Maniadalo said she was very happy as first recipient of this initiative.

“I am a farmer for the past ten years.

“I plant vegetables using pots, raised beds and tyres.

“To prevent pests like giant snails, I put sands around my boxes to keep them away,” she said.

With these seedlings, Mrs Maniadalo is looking forward to feed seven people in the family and may sell them if there are surplus.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

ABOUT 17,000 people in Honiara have expressed their interests to receive free vegetable seedlings from Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock when the message was posted on social media.

Undersecretary Technical Michael Ho’ota stated this after the handing over of 600 seedlings to 10 recipients in Honiara at National Agriculture and Livestock Research Development Center (NARLDC) at old Taiwanese Technical farm opposite KGVI School.

Each recipient received a total of 60 seedlings which include 20 seeds of pakchoi, 20 seeds of saladeer and 20 seeds of choisum.

Ho’ota said the government will try its best to meet the demand through the households in Honiara.

He said about half a million was allocated under the budget to do this activity.

However, Ho’ota said the activity will really help the food security in Honiara during this coronavirus period and reduce Non Communicable Diseases in the long run.

Besides, he said the ministry wants to see more people participate in vegetable farming to meet the export market in future.

The Agriculture research team at the National Agriculture and Livestock Research Development Center (NARLDC) at old Taiwanese Technical farm opposite KGVI School supplied the seedlings from their mass nursery production.

The NARLDC team under the Ministry of agriculture and Livestock is mandated by the National Disaster Organising Committee Livelihood committee to carry out the task to ensure food supply (Vegetables) for Honiara is maintained even when in a lock-down situation due to COVID-19.

Chief Research Officer Maria Ghasuka said the nursery started in April 2 where they planted the seeds.

Mrs Ghasuka said they targeted 20 households in Honiara but the demands has increased and will do mass production of 8000 seedlings.

Most of the vegetables seedlings are three weeks old and need another three weeks before harvesting.