SIART strengthens cocoa farming skills for ABPOs in South Malaita

Thursday 28 May, Honiara – The Solomon Islands Agriculture Rural Transformation (SIART) Project remains committed to strengthening farming skills and the capacity of farmers representing Agribusiness Producer Organizations (ABPOs) in Guadalcanal, Malaita and Makira/Ulawa Province.

On Wednesday 27 May 2026, the SIART Project delivered a one-day training in Ro’one village in South Malaita.

A total of 31 participants from the Ueniusu’unu Cocoa Farmers Association, 21 male and 10 female, attended the training which focused on Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) and Nursery Management and Types of Grafting techniques.

The IPDM component covers different diseases and pests that affects cocoa fruit and tree. And controls to minimize or remove its impacts in the farm and physical, biological and chemical controls.

On Nursery Management, the training covered site selection, type of soil to use, seed selection, weed control, shade and spacing when transplanting seedlings into the farm while on Grafting Techniques farmers were trained on top grafting (use on seedlings in the nursery), side Grafting and chupon Grafting.

The training also covered different types of pruning including skirt pruning (applied on the cocoa tree to get rid of droppy branches, 1m above the ground), chupon pruning (to get rid of unwanted branches) and formation pruning (to form jorquette at a height of 1m).

Practical demonstration was held on the a local ABPO member farm, allowing participants to apply new knowledge directly in the field.

SIART’s Betty Arumae, who traveled to the southern region to organize the trainings, said participants have expressed satisfaction with the content of the training.

“They have expressed confidence in putting into practice their new gained skills and support their individual farms and ABPO grow which will in turn benefit their community of farmers.

“The dedication shown by the local farmers will have a ripple effect in improving cocoa production in the region,” she said.

The same training will be conducted for the Louatowa and Haitataimwane Cocoa Farmers Association in Eliote Village, South Malaita and the Siua Basin Development Association in Porepore Village, West Are’Are in the coming days.

The training also underscores the importance of ongoing support—both technical and financial—for ABPOs to effectively implement improved practices and represents another step forward in SIART’s mission to transform Solomon Islands agriculture through capacity building, market linkages, and sustainable practices, strengthening the cocoa sector for economic growth and community resilience.

The SIART Project is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and supported by the World Bank.

The project supports farmers across Malaita, Guadalcanal, and Makira-Ulawa Province through targeted training, infrastructure support, agribusiness development, and extension services contributing directly to food security and community resilience.

Group presentations during the one-day training.

A total of 31 participants from the Ueniusu’unu Cocoa Farmers Association, 21 male and 10 female, attended the training.

Practical demonstration was held on the local ABPO farm, allowing participants to apply new knowledge directly in the field.

A cocoa processing facility in Ro’one village in South Malaita supported by the SIART Project.

Cocoa nursery in Ro’one village in South Malaita supported by the SIART Project.