BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Seaweed farming is quite new to many individuals, as traditional fishing has largely served as a livelihood, said Ngella Constituency Development Officer Robert Manebona.
However, he said that, as situations change and communities face challenges, there is an opportunity to promote aquaculture as an alternative means of sustenance for those reliant on marine resources.
“We are currently exploring a potential initiative offered by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources. During our collaboration with several technical officers from the ministry this week we had the opportunity to attend a handover event, which was graced by the Minister of Fisheries and several senior officials. Our objective is to identify additional supportive resources from other ministries that could benefit the community, beyond the Constituency Development Fund (CDF),’’ said Manebona.
He said that through their discussions and negotiations, they were invited to observe the handover of equipment for seaweed farming, which he believes is a worthy step towards advancing projects within constituencies.
“Ngella presents a significant opportunity as a fishing site due to its proximity and accessibility to Honiara. While we have numerous fishing grounds and fishermen, the primary challenge remains the lack of resources to effectively access the market.
“It is noteworthy that this was my first opportunity to learn more about seaweed, and I was quite pleased to receive an invitation to our office. Our current objective is to collaborate with the ministry and engage with the project fisheries department to identify suitable sites for tilapia farming, seaweed cultivation, and fishing operations,’’ said Manebona.
He said that this collaboration is beneficial as it allows Constituency officers to gain support from the primary ministry dedicated to assisting rural farmers.
He said that Ngella is ready to establish this connection to align the (CDF) with the ministry’s initiatives aimed at supporting rural farmers, particularly as applications for relevant projects are now open.
“A select few recipients have already been approved and have received materials, while other rural farmers and fishermen are encouraged to apply.
“I was fortunate to be part of the handover, as I was provided with all the necessary resources for seaweed farming and the relevant application forms. I intend to distribute these materials to rural farmers and fishermen. Although the funding is small, with approximately 100,000 allocated to each constituency, it provides a valuable starting point for these individuals,’’ he said.
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