By RODRICK DESURI 

AUKI 

The implementation of the successful applicants’ projects funded by the World Bank under the Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation (SIART) programme has created employment opportunities for rural communities. 

Kwasila Association is one of the successful applicants of the SIART programme, which has kicked off with a piggery project and has engaged about 30 people, including women and young people who previously were unemployed. 

Chairman of Kwasila Association, Eddie Otosafi said the project has given them hope and shown an image of achieving goals in the future.

He said his group is now in the implementation phase of their piggery project, and many women and young high school dropouts have been engaged.

“Many women and high school dropouts joined us in the implementation works. This is because they have seen for themselves what the project will provide and what they will achieve from it.

“We work together with the hope that this project will benefit our community in terms of income generation, food, and broadening our knowledge and skills in piggery farming,” he said. 

The report stated that the initiative aims to improve agricultural productivity, commercialisation, and market access for various crops like cocoa and fruit trees, and it is scheduled to end in December 2026. 

The programme is a World Bank-funded initiative mainly to support agricultural producers and rural transformation through training, equipment, and grants for Agribusiness Producer Organizations (ABPOs) in Malaita, Guadalcanal and Makira Ulawa provinces.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]