BY SYLVANA TEKUMAHA
The courtesy visit by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MAL), with the Agriculture Investment for Markets and Nutrition (AIM-N) Project to Choiseul province on Monday reaffirms commitment to strengthening agricultural development.
According to MAL’s press statement, MAL Extension Department Acting Deputy Director, Michael Tanisapa emphasised during the visit the importance of collaboration between national and provincial governments in delivering effective agricultural programs that directly benefit rural communities.
Mr Tanisapa highlighted that MAL’s work is guided by the Corporate Plan 2025–2028, which focuses on food security, economic growth, and rural development.
He noted that the alignment between the Choiseul Provincial Government Development Plan and MAL’s corporate objectives, guided by the GNUTS Agriculture Policy, can enable the successful rollout of agriculture programs in the province.
“The AIM-N Project is one of the key initiatives supporting the Ministry’s objectives, and through strong partnership and coordination, we hope to see tangible benefits for our rural people,” Tanisapa said.
Deputy Premier of Choiseul Province, Lincoln Galo, welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed the province’s strong support for the agriculture sector, describing it as a priority area for the provincial government.
The visit gave opportunity for senior officials from MAL and the AIM-N Project to formally introduce the project to provincial leaders, confirm implementation arrangements, and secure provincial leadership awareness and support ahead of the commencement of operational activities in the province.
He acknowledged existing challenges within the sector, including limited institutional capacity, but expressed optimism that the AIM-N Project would help revitalise agricultural development in the province.
“This visit comes at a very important time. We see this project as well aligned with our provincial identity and development priorities, with the Ministry’s support, we are confident that the agriculture sector in Choiseul will begin to move forward again.”
He emphasised the importance of taking agricultural initiatives to the grassroots level to ensure communities are well informed and directly benefit from project activities.
He also noted the province’s commitment to supporting implementation through relevant Heads of Department and key stakeholders.
The AIM-N Project team is expected to be deployed to Choiseul Province in the second week of February, marking the beginning of coordinated efforts to strengthen market access, nutrition outcomes, and sustainable livelihoods for rural communities across the province.
The current visiting team will begin a series of consultation meetings with key stakeholders, including representatives from the health and education sectors as well as women’s groups, throughout the week.
