BY MORRIS NAFU
The Youth Entrepreneur Council of Solomon Islands (YECSI) has received approval from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) through the Cocoa and Coconut Revolving Fund (CCRF), marking a significant advancement in youth involvement in the agricultural sector.
As stated in a recent press release statement, the partnership was formalized as MAL began signing funding support agreements with the first group of YECSI member recipients under the CCRF.
The signing ceremony took place at the MAL Headquarters and was attended by the CCRF Secretariat, Deputy Secretary for Special Duties, Mr. Simon Baete, and Deputy Secretary for Technical, Mr. Michael Ho’ota.
During the event, Mr. Baete congratulated the young recipients and urged them to seize the opportunity, highlighting its potential to enhance their roles within the agriculture industry.
The following recipients were awarded grants:
Willie Yates: SOL FRESH PRODUCTS LTD, Henderson, Cocoa – $150,000.00
Creina Desonia Tapalaboe: LEXCRE ENTERPRISE COMPANY LTD, North Guadalcanal, Cocoa – $50,000.00
Blessed Tavi Peni: SEANUT TRADERS ENTERPRISE, Western Province, Copra – $50,000.00
YECSI expressed its gratitude to MAL for this groundbreaking support initiative, the first of its kind aimed specifically at empowering members involved in cocoa and copra production. The organization also acknowledged the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) for initiating the CCRF program.
Established in 2018 through a public-private partnership, YECSI has seen remarkable growth, expanding from 31 members in June 2024 to 127 members as of August 2025, with 14 actively engaged in agriculture.
The partnership with YECSI reflects MAL’s commitment to supporting youth-led agribusinesses, promoting economic growth, and enhancing the sustainability of the cocoa and coconut sectors.
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