By Loretta B Manele
Despite many challenges we anticipate in the new year, we remain very optimistic that agriculture development activities will progress successfully because of the strategies we already put in place.
Franklyn Wasi, Minister for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) made the above statement when speaking on the floor of parliament during the Sine Die Motion on Thursday 19th this month.
He expressed that MAL will aggressively invest the public resources allocated to the ministry on agricultural economic activities by supporting our buyers, service providers, downstream processors, producers and other stakeholders involved in the market value chain.
Wasi also stated that recognizing the importance of food security, safety and nutrition, his ministry will also embark on providing assistance to root crop and vegetable farmers with farm machineries.
“The ministry will do this in close partnership with the private enterprises, through the public private partnership approach or other workable strategies jointly identified with our stakeholders”
Wasi said many of these activities have already started this year and is expected to be further progress or be completed in 2025.
He emphasized that amidst the challenges they anticipate in the new year, they remain very optimistic that their programs will be successful given that strategies are already in place.
“Formulation of new ones and the team effort that we have with all our stakeholders including development partners both bilateral and multilateral and our NGOs”
As new minister with a heart for his people and the nation, he said his optimistic and confident that his ministry will deliver on its development programs for next year and beyond.
Wasi appeals directly to the people especially those in rural areas to work closely with the ministry through their extension and provincial staff to bring about change in the agriculture sector.
“I assure you the good people of Solomon Islands that I will not tolerate the reputation of the past failures in our development programs going forward.
Come the new financial year, the ministry will do all it can to be different from the past and be successful in all its plans”
