MAL ROLLS OUT SUPPORT TO AGRI-BUSINESS PRODUCER ORGANIZATIONS (ABPOs) THROUGH SIART PROJECT
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has successfully distributed a total of $304,234.00 in cash grants to 28 Agri-Business Producer Organizations (ABPOs) across the provinces of Guadalcanal, Malaita, and Makira.
The funding is part of the World Bank-funded Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation (SIART) project, which aims to enhance the agricultural sector in the country.
The grants were awarded through merit-based applications and will assist the ABPOs in strengthening their operations in cocoa, coconut, and small livestock production.
The funding will be utilized for various purposes including administration, transport hire, training, labor costs, and the construction of driers, as well as some operational costs.
The goal is to assist 66 ABPO projects by 2026.
The ABPOs comprise of community farmer groupings and family farms involve in cocoa, coconut and small livestock production.
In Malaita province 12 ABPOs received their first tranche payment into their ABPO bank accounts: including Kafonaliki Coconut Farmers Association, Green Ag Farm Community Company, Aibilaka Cocoa and Coconut Buying Enterprises, Faufua Cocoa Farmers Association, JED Farmers Association, Ngalifasi Farmers Associations, Taki Farmers Association, Alisuri CCCL, Malaha Farmers Association, Northern Dove Association, Rehoboth Farmers Association and Lamokwa Kindred Farmers Association.
On Guadalcanal province, 10 ABPOs received their first tranche payment into their bank accounts including Haevango Cocoa Farmers, CAP Family Enterprise, Atunoda Family Farmer Association, Gold Ridge Community Women Association, MK Farm Fresh Organic Farm, Toromahi Cocoa Community Company Ltd, North Guadalcanal Fruit Tree Association, Ghautina Farmers Association, Makambo Community Company Ltd and RP Family Enterprise.
In Makira province, 6 ABPOs received their first tranche payment into their bank accounts including Central Bauro CCL, Vaimatesa Produce Group, RRR Investments Farmers Association, Nukukaisi Agribisnis Networking, IGAU Cocoa Association and Wahia Farmers Association Trust Board.
The 28 ABPOs were some of the first batch of recipients under the SIART project through merit-based applications.
The ABPOs are funded with a total grant of SBD$10,143,519.25, with the target of 66 ABPO projects, total estimated grants will be more than SBD$20,000,000.00.
Each ABPOs has to be registered, has a bank account and has minimum number of 15 household members and maximum of 50 household members.
They also provided 10 percent of the total funding as their contribution.
The total 10 percent contribution of the 28 signed ABPOs amounted to SBD$1,004,351.93 dollars.
The world bank funded SIART project will lapse in December 2026.
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-MAL Press Release