By RODRICK DESURI

AUKI

The Waitoto community in Maramasike Passage, southern part of Malaita Province, is set to benefit from a six-day training on honey bees, piggery and tilapia this week. 

According to Malaita’s Senior Fisheries Officer in Auki, Mathew Isihanua, the training started on Monday, August 4 and will end on Saturday, August 9. 

He said the training comes under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR). 

Isihanua explained that the training aims to support members of the Apunepara Conservation with alternative livelihood activities.

He mentioned that the training has reached Southern Malaita following requests from the Apunepara Tribal Conservation Association. 

“This training comes under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, and it was the Apunepara Tribal Conservation Association that requested it,” he said.

He added that during the first two days of the training, participants learned a lot from the theoretical side of the training.

“The participants have learned a lot during the first two days of theory training. Topics covered during the two days included bee keeping, pig farming and husbandry, and tilapia farming,” he said.

He stated that they also learned how to formulate feed for bees, pigs, and tilapia.

Isihanua said today, Thursday, August 7, 2025, they will continue the training and focus on pig husbandry, production parameters of pig farming, and integration methods of tilapia farming and value adding.

The Fisheries Senior Officer encourages rural communities in Malaita Province to engage their youths and adults in such trainings.

The six-day training is funded by the Apunepara Tribal Conservation Association, Waitoto community, in the southern region of Malaita Province.

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