BY LORETTA B MANELE
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) is looking to kick off their coconut replanting program next year, says Samson Viulu, MAL Permanent Secretary.
Appearing before the Public Accounts Hearing (PAC) yesterday for hearing of the 2026 National Budget (Appropriation Bill 2026), Viulu spoke about what the ministry’s doing in terms of their programs for the local commodity.
He said if they are to receive the budget for the above initiative, they will use it to start the program next year.
Viulu also said through other donor funded projects such as one with the World Bank, they are being assisted to replant coconuts.
He highlighted that next year, their target is to establish an additional new 1000 hectares for coconut and then around 300 hectares for cocoa.
“That is the direct intervention from the government through the ministry,” he said.
Viulu also mentioned that in terms of value-added downstream processing, so far, they have 4,000 metric tonne of coconut oil and have exported coconut oil in January up to October this year.
He added that while the production for coconut oil remains steady, for copra there’s a huge jump.
Member of Parliament for Small Malaita and PAC Chairman, Rick Hou asked Viulu how they can help farmers to be steady in production of the commodity; noting that commodity products fluctuate all the time.
In his response, Viulu said they are focusing on providing tools and equipment for trials.
To top that off, he mentioned that they are also working closely on a new programme with Australia’s DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade).
Viulu said under the new programme, SICRAD (Solomon Islands Climate Resilient Agriculture Development Program), they will be building several storage sheds, in selected ports of call in every province to help act as buying centres for rural buyers in the provinces.
Moreover, he stated that hopefully when this commences and having some price stability programme, he thinks it should sit the Ministry of Commerce.
“So, we will discuss with Commerce and probably CBSI to help us with this, so that price is maintained,” Viulu said.
He voiced that apart from price, they will also have to continue to strengthen the rehabilitation and replanting of new plantations.
For feedback, contact: [email protected]
