BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
OFFICERS from the Western Province Agriculture Division have taken part in a practical training at the Mile 6 Cattle Farm that aims to preserve and pass on essential cattle fencing skills to the next generation of agricultural officers.
The training focused on the fundamentals of constructing cattle fences, including pulling barbed wire, stretching string lines between corner posts, and learning the correct techniques required to build strong and durable livestock fencing.
Chief Field Officer of the Western Province Agriculture Division, Sipuru Rove, said the initiative forms part of his plan to ensure younger agriculture officers acquire practical knowledge that is becoming increasingly rare within the sector.
He said cattle fencing is a specialised skill possessed by only a handful of experienced officers, making it vital to transfer the knowledge before it is lost.
“Only a few of us still have the knowledge and skill, so it is time to transfer the knowledge to the younger officers,” Rove said.
He said the training is timely as the Solomon Islands Government moves forward with plans to revive the country’s cattle industry.
“This is important because the government is planning to revive cattle farming in the country,” Rove said.
He explained that practical skills such as cattle fencing cannot be fully learned in a classroom setting or through studies at the Solomon Islands National University, making on-site training essential for agriculture officers.
Rove said experienced officers have a responsibility to mentor younger staff through hands-on demonstrations to ensure they are equipped with the practical skills needed to support livestock development across the province.
The training at Mile 6 Cattle Farm is expected to strengthen the technical capacity of the Western Province Agriculture Division and prepare officers to assist farmers as cattle farming expands in the future.
The initiative also supports broader government efforts to rebuild the livestock sector and improve agricultural production, food security and rural livelihoods throughout Solomon Islands.
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