BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Women and girls of Tolosi Hokutenikeni Women’s Association and women’s groups from Ward 21 at Eliote Village in small Malaita have successfully concluded an Agriculture workshop.

Hokutenikeni Women’s Association President Anna Grace Aitorea said the agriculture workshop was facilitated by the Matavale Women’s Association from 26th to 28th May, 2025.

Mrs Aitorea said that the workshop is immensely important and its focus is on “How to improve the soil for growing food”.

She said agriculture is often the primary source of food and income for rural communities like Eliote Village and so, learning how to improve soil fertility will result in better crop yields, ensuring more food for families and potentially surplus for sale.

“Thereby enhancing food security and economic stability,” she said.

She told the participants that healthier soil means more productive gardens, reducing the need to purchase expensive, often less nutritious, imported foods.

She said that this is crucial for remote areas where access to markets can be challenging and costly.

She said that one of the areas the workshop intends to address and equip the women on is the high vulnerability of climate change that usually affects food security.

“The Solomon Islands are highly vulnerable to climate change, with impacts like increased rainfall, droughts and sea-level rise affecting agricultural productivity. Sustainable soil management practices, such as increasing organic matter improve the soil’s water retention capacity and resilience to extreme weather; making farming systems more robust in the face of climate change,” said Mrs Aitorea.

“By focusing on the first part of soil health, it provides practical tools for building a more resilient and food-secure future,” Mrs Aitorea told the women’s group associations.

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