SIART boosting community pig farming projects

Tuesday 29 September, Honiara – The Solomon Islands Agriculture Rural Transformation (SIART) Project has invested a total of $8.7 million into twenty (20) Agribusiness Producer Organization (ABPOs), 16 in Malaita Province, 3 in Guadalcanal Province and 1 in Makira/Ulawa Province which is improving the livelihoods of 532 households and benefitting around 3,000 individuals in different communities across the three provinces.

These are ABPOs involved in community pig farming projects. The ABPOs are community-based groups and family networks that work together to improve market access, secure funding and boost agricultural production.

SIART supported the establishment of pig breeding facilities including pig house, breeding stock, feed and equipment and distributed weaner to local farmers who are members of the respective ABPOs.

SIART Project Manager, Mr. William Okekini said the project has also supported with pig grower sheds for either individual farmers or for the ABPOs as a group.

“The potential impacts of this investment will be huge which also has the potential of changing the lives of local pig farmers in the communities.

“We are estimating 2,400 weaners produced per annum from the 100 breeder sows supplied which is valued at $1.92 million. That is if they sell at $800 per weaner.

“The project has also supplied 189 weaners to farmers for growing with the potential value of $567,000 when sold at $3,000 per head or approximately 15,000 kg of pork meat,” Mr. Okekini said.

With the piggery ABPOs, SIART ensures that they comply with set environmental safeguards standards with proper housing and waste disposal, management and take into consideration the animals’ welfare.

A total of $902,000 has been disbursed to the 20 piggery ABPOs to purchase weaners and feed and to operate and manage their ABPOs.

“We also promote the use of local feeds with additional grant to establish feed processing unit for local feeds while also prioritizing improved pig quality and provide training in feed formulation and quality production,” SIART Project Manager, Mr. Okekini, said.

In Malaita Province, sustainable community pig farming projects supported by SIART will improve livelihoods by allowing farmers to produce healthier pigs, which increases income for education and household necessities.

“Our community has been struggling for a long time to have a breeding shelter for our people. And we are so thankful to SIART for supporting us in achieving this dream,” said Tom Irosaea from Fa’arau Village in Central Kwara’ae.

Mr. Irosaea, has been a pig farmer for almost 40 years, and is now a member of the GIF Piggery Farmers Association, made up local farmers in and around Fa’arau village who involve in pig breeding and fattening.

The GIF Piggery Farmers Association is benefitting from a $400,000 grant from the SIART that includes the construction of a breeding and fattening shelter, improvement of breeding stock, tools and equipment and a working capital revolving fund for members of the association to purchase stock and feed.

In Gwaonaoa village, Chairman Mr. Anthony Aumae leads the Arise Rural Farm Community Company Limited, a group consisting of local farmers from closed extended family members.

“For us the aim is to improve the pig farms of our members in terms of production,” Mr. Aumae said.

He described the support received from SIART as the way forward for local farmers to benefit.

Pig farmers in Gwaonaoa village through their association will receive a $200,000 grant from SIART for a breeding shelter and storage house.

“This is mainly for the livelihoods of our families. Because at the moment our members find it quite difficult to earn some income for their families.

“This approach by SIART will be effective with time and patience and all our members are really happy to be involved in this project,” Mr. Aumae said.

As the SIART Project draws down to an end in December 2026 it remains committed to its objective to increase agricultural production and improve market access in selected value chains in Guadalcanal, Malaita, and Makira/Ulawa Province.

SIART is a World Bank funded initiative implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL).

• SIART Media Release

ENDS///…with photos

Captions:

Festus Irumai, Secretary of the Ikoru Raku Farmers Association in Kiu Village, West Are’are, Malaita Province standing in front of their piggery breeding shelter supported by the SIART Project.

SIART supported the establishment of pig breeding facilities including pig house, breeding stock, feed and equipment and distributed weaner to local farmers who are members of the respective ABPOs.