MALD 2026 Strategic Workshop Ends with Strong Commitment to Agricultural Development

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD) last week has successfully concluded its 2026 Strategic Workshop at Raiders Hotel in Tulagi under the theme, “Transforming Agriculture for Economic Growth.”

The workshop ended with renewed commitment from senior management and provincial leaders to strengthen agricultural development and improve service delivery across the Solomon Islands.

The week-long retreat brought together the Ministry’s senior leadership, including directors, provincial extension officers, and development partners, to review progress, assess challenges, and develop strategic priorities that will guide the Ministry’s work in the coming years.

Closing the retreat, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Hon Franklyn Derek Wasi, thanked participants for their active engagement and valuable contributions throughout the discussions.

Hon Franklyn Derek Wasi Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development

Hon Wasi said the retreat provided an important platform to critically review the Ministry’s priorities and identify practical pathways to improve performance and strengthen support for farmers, livestock producers, agribusinesses, and rural communities.

“Agriculture and livestock development remain at the heart of our nation’s economic growth, food security, rural livelihoods, and sustainable development,” he said.

He noted that the discussions reflected the professionalism and dedication of Ministry staff and had resulted in a clearer direction for the Ministry moving forward. The retreat also strengthened coordination across departments and helped ensure that resources would be focused on achieving measurable outcomes.

The Minister emphasized that the success of the retreat would depend on the Ministry’s ability to implement the decisions and commitments made during the workshop.

“We have collectively developed strategic priorities that will guide our efforts, improve coordination across departments and ensure that our resources are directed toward achieving measurable outcomes. However, the true value of this retreat will not be measured by the quality of our discussions alone, but by our ability to translate our plans into action.

I encourage each of you to take ownership of the decisions and commitments made during this retreat. Let us work together to foster a culture of excellence, innovation, transparency, and teamwork across the Ministry,” he said.

He further highlighted the importance of effective leadership, sound decision-making, and responsiveness to the evolving needs of stakeholders, while embracing innovative approaches to improve agricultural productivity, livestock development, and community resilience.

Permanent Secretary Dr. Samson Viulu said, the outcomes of the retreat will guide the Ministry’s programmes and interventions over the next two years and support the Government’s vision of a productive, resilient, and sustainable agriculture sector that contributes to economic growth and improved livelihoods.

He added that the workshop encouraged participants to assess performance, share experiences, and identify practical strategies that will deliver meaningful impacts for farmers and rural communities throughout the country.

Representing provincial extension officers, Chief Field Officer for Malaita Province, Frank Omelanga, thanked the Ministry for bringing together extension personnel from across the Solomon Islands to contribute to the planning process.

Mr. Omelanga said the retreat had been highly insightful and had helped identify priorities and targets for 2027 while ensuring that Ministry activities remain aligned with the Government’s agricultural policy agenda.

He also expressed hope that the Government would continue to strengthen support for the agriculture sector through increased investment and budget allocations to enable the effective implementation of planned activities.

Meanwhile, Principal Field Officer for Central Province, Kelvin Lamusasa, thanked MALD Headquarters for selecting Central Province as the host of the retreat.

He said Central Province was honoured to host the gathering and appreciated the opportunity to support an event that will contribute to the future development of the Solomon Islands’ agriculture sector.

The retreat concluded with participants reaffirming their commitment to work collaboratively toward delivering sustainable agricultural growth and improved services for farmers and rural communities across the country.

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