BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Annual Planning Conference theme is Transforming Agriculture for Economic Growth, reflecting the critical role agriculture must play in unlocking the nation’s full economic potential.

Franklyn Wasi, the minister responsible stated the above at Honiara Hotel on Monday this week when he officially opened the weeklong conference. 

The conference is funded under the UNDP SAFE project and supported by the Ministry for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM).

“It is my pleasure to address all of you this morning as we open the 2025 Annual Planning Conference of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock,” said Wasi.

“At the outset, I wish to thank UNDP for funding this important 5-day planning conference more specifically, the UNDP SAFE project as well as the Ministry for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) for the support towards this conference,” he said.

He said agriculture is central to the country’s food security, national resilience and long-term prosperity.

“Our theme this year “Transforming Agriculture for Economic Growth”-reflects the critical role agriculture must play in unlocking our nation’s full economic potential. Agriculture sustains the livelihoods of more than 80% of our population. It is central to our food security, national resilience and long-term prosperity,” he said.

Minister Wasi said that this week’s conference is a critical opportunity for four things.

“Review our 2025 work plans and assess implementation progress. Finalize and align our 2026 operational plans with national priorities. Advance the Agriculture Sector Development Policy and the E-Agriculture Strategy and strengthen internal coordination and governance structures, including the rollout of our Monitoring & Evaluation Framework and the proposed institutional restructuring,” said Wasi.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock (MAL) continues to develop it’s human resources.

Minister Franklyn Wasi expressed this during the opening of the Ministry’s Annual Planning Conference at the Honiara Hotel, on Monday 19 May.

“We continue to strengthen our internal capacity,” said Minister Wasi.

He said that 32 staff are pursuing Diploma and Degree programs at Solomon Islands National University (SINU) and University of the South Pacific (USP) Samoa.

He said that one staff member recently graduated with a Master’s degree from the University of Tokyo.

“Another is close to completing a PhD in Soil Science at Massey University, New Zealand,” he said.

He said that staff of the extension department is about to graduate with a masters in agribusiness from the University of Queensland.

“These investments ensure a strong technical and leadership base for the future,” said Wasi.

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BY JOHN HOUANIAHU

An additional $8.6 million is available this year under the Cocoa and Coconut Revolving Fund (CCRF).

Franklyn Wasi, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock revealed this when he officially opened the ministry’s 2025 Annual Planning Conference in Honiara on Monday this week.

He said that the CCRF is one of eight key policy priorities assigned to the ministry under the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT).

“These priorities, introduced since GNUT took office, form the bedrock of our sector-wide transformation-anchored in inclusive growth, improved market access and food sovereignty,” said Wasi.

Minister Wasi said that the Cocoa and Coconut Revolving Fund is designed to tackle a major constraint-access to finance targeted at cocoa and copra producers.

“An additional $8.6 million is available this year and a new Call for Expressions of Interest will be launched shortly. I urge all stakeholders to support farmers in meeting the basic requirements a valid business license and recent sales receipt.

“We received 636 applications. 57 recipients have so far accessed $2.26 million in soft loans,” said Minister Wasi.

He said these investments are expected to generate $15 million in revenue within six months.

He said that this initiative prioritizes value chain development and the ministry aims to expand both production and markets in tandem.

The revolving fund was meant to immediately boost cocoa and copra exports by encouraging more local buyers and exporters to actively engage in trading of both commodities.

MAL strives to promote transparency by publishing all its recipients who receives public funding support through the ministry.

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

Harry Kuma, Minister of Finance and Treasury has voiced the need for Solomon Islands to have a big transformation reform in order to attract investment.

He raised this when speaking at the debate on the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Bill this Monday in parliament.

Kuma stressed that the country needs a changing transformative legislative reform to be able to attract sufficient investment level to be able to drive our country forward.

“Solomon Islands must develop a competitive edge and superiority.”

Kuma pointed out that neighbouring countries in the region are ahead of us in terms of ease of doing business.

“Our ranking is issued by World Bank. But we are better in attracting genuine foreign investments from countries around the world.

Having a comparative advantage in an investment area is not good enough for us.

Solomon Islands must develop a competitive edge and superiority.”

Kuma emphasized that Solomon Islands needs to provide genuine investors with a rate-competing treatment.

He said this can include initiatives like; ease of entry into the country, simple tax rating to comply with and taxing diplomatic-like work permits, visa arrangement for investors, technical personnel and CEOs and providing low cost of electricity.

Kuma stated that they have been putting efforts in ensuring macroeconomic stability and fiscal stability, which are so important for us to market this country.

He noted that there are also other factors that are important to attract foreign investment into the country and they are political stability, security and quality and well-maintained infrastructure.

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BY JOHN HOUANIAHU

The first two containers of frozen cassava will be exported in June this year.

Cassava export initiative is the third of the eight key policy priorities assigned to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) under the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT).

“Despite earlier weather-related delays, our first two containers of frozen cassava will be exported in June,” said Minister Franklyn Wasi.

He opened this year’s Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Annual Planning Conference on Monday this week at the Honiara Hotel in Honiara.

“We invested $2.7 million in a processing facility in partnership with SAPE Farm, which will process frozen cassava, produce cassava flour and manufacture livestock feed,” he told delegates and stakeholders.

He said that the buyer has indicated demand for four containers per month, confirming strong market interest.

One of the Government funded agriculture projects through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), Sape farm bearing successful results as its cassava tubers were exported overseas since 2020 with more export expected this year and in the coming years as there is huge interests and demand for cassava.

Sape farm in partnership with Varivao Holdings Ltd exported 14 tons of (its) cassava tubers to Australia, the first export after its establishment in 2018.

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

Trevor Mahaga, Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) highlighted the importance of “climate smart development”.

He spoke about this whilst contributing to the debate on the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Bill 2024 in parliament on Monday, May 19.

Mahaga said he supports the bill because it mandates the Environmental Impact Assessment which integrates waste and pollution controls and embed climate resilience into zone planning.

He stressed that these measures are core to long-term success and they can and should go further on this.

“Our agencies must be leading examples of climate smart development.”

Speaking on “climate smart development”, Mahaga outlined a number of initiatives under this channel.

One of them is “clean energy”, of which he said they should make as a standard and not an exception.

Mahaga voiced that clean energy is not only possible but cost-effective in the long run.

He said investors are now actively looking for clean energy zones and they should offer them one.

Other initiatives he mentioned under “climate smart development” are nature-based infrastructure, sustainable water systems, green construction materials and community driven design.

Mahaga emphasized that the SEZ Bill through its amended provisions rightly place environmental oversight within the core of existing governance.

He furthered that the involvement of his ministry will ensure that compliance is not an afterthought, but a precondition.

In this regard, he stated that they will ensure every development proposal is screened for climate risks.

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

A Member of Parliament has offered his constituency for government to develop in terms of establishing Special Economic Zones in the country.

Alfred Lazarus Rimah, Member of Parliament for East Central Guadalcanal while contributing to parliament’s debate on the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Bill yesterday said government can develop infrastructure in his constituency if the capital is already full.

Initially, he said establishing Special Economic Zones is the way forward for accelerating economic growth, investment and national development in the Solomon Islands.

“This bill is a milestone that will redefine our economic landscape and lay the foundation for prosperity beyond Honiara.”

He expressed that apart from the main headquarters land in the provinces are also suitable and waiting to be utilized.

In this regard, he told parliament that his constituency although how far or remote it might be consists of suitable land that can be developed into an airport or port and is perfectly positioned to linking our provinces and international borders.

“This initiative will unlock economic growth, create jobs and attract investments and strengthen trade and tourism.”

He stated that they must ensure that projects are efficiently managed, transparently executed and aligned with long-term national interests.

Rimah told parliament that they must use this opportunity to lay the foundation for more economical resilience and a prosperous Solomon Islands.

“My constituency is ready”

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BY NED GAGAHE

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has assured the nation that the government is actively addressing the implications of the 10 percent reciprocal tariff imposed by the United States, stating that both bilateral and regional diplomatic efforts are underway.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday in response to a question from the Leader of the Opposition, Prime Minister Manele said that the Solomon Islands’ Embassy in New York is engaging with U.S. counterparts at the bilateral level.

On the regional front, he said the Pacific Islands Forum’s Troika group has also reached out to the U.S. Administration during a recent meeting in Nadi, Fiji, to initiate broader dialogue.

“The Troika has reached out to the U.S. in terms of possible dialogue between the region and the U.S., not only regarding the impact of the tariffs on individual economies, but also their implications for regional institutions such as SPC and SPREP,” he said.

Prime Minister Manele stressed on the importance of taking decisive national action in response to global trade disruptions.

“As a government, especially in terms of policy, it is important we strengthen and diversify our trade relationships. We must also reinforce domestic industries to reduce reliance on external markets,” he said.

He highlighted the need to boost regional cooperation and intra-Pacific trade to cushion against future economic shocks.

“Enhancing regional trading arrangements and investing in robust infrastructure will not only support economic growth but also build long-term resilience,” Manele added.

“We are also aware that the U.S. is currently engaged in trade talks with major partners such as China, Canada, and Mexico. Any economic impact on those nations will eventually cascade down to us through our own trade relationships,” he said.

He affirmed the government’s commitment to proactive trade policy reforms, aimed at enhancing economic self-sufficiency and mitigating the risks posed by unpredictable global market dynamics.

“As a government, we are very aware of the need to act both now and into the future to ensure we can shield our economy from external shocks and continue to grow through regional and sub-regional trade opportunities,” Manele said.

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