BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Annual Planning Conference theme is Transforming Agriculture for Economic Growth, reflecting the critical role agriculture must play in unlocking the nation’s full economic potential.

Franklyn Wasi, the minister responsible stated the above at Honiara Hotel on Monday this week when he officially opened the weeklong conference. 

The conference is funded under the UNDP SAFE project and supported by the Ministry for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM).

“It is my pleasure to address all of you this morning as we open the 2025 Annual Planning Conference of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock,” said Wasi.

“At the outset, I wish to thank UNDP for funding this important 5-day planning conference more specifically, the UNDP SAFE project as well as the Ministry for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) for the support towards this conference,” he said.

He said agriculture is central to the country’s food security, national resilience and long-term prosperity.

“Our theme this year “Transforming Agriculture for Economic Growth”-reflects the critical role agriculture must play in unlocking our nation’s full economic potential. Agriculture sustains the livelihoods of more than 80% of our population. It is central to our food security, national resilience and long-term prosperity,” he said.

Minister Wasi said that this week’s conference is a critical opportunity for four things.

“Review our 2025 work plans and assess implementation progress. Finalize and align our 2026 operational plans with national priorities. Advance the Agriculture Sector Development Policy and the E-Agriculture Strategy and strengthen internal coordination and governance structures, including the rollout of our Monitoring & Evaluation Framework and the proposed institutional restructuring,” said Wasi.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]