The Solomon Islands Agriculture Rural Transformation (SIART) Project has invested $8.7 million in 20 Agribusiness Producer Organisations (ABPOs) to support community pig farming and improve the livelihoods of 532 households across Malaita, Guadalcanal and Makira/Ulawa provinces.

Of the 20 ABPOs, 16 are in Malaita, three in Guadalcanal and one in Makira/Ulawa, benefiting an estimated 3,000 people in communities across the three provinces.

The ABPOs are community-based groups and family networks that work together to improve market access, secure funding and increase agricultural production.

Under the piggery programme, SIART has supported the establishment of pig breeding facilities, including pig houses, breeding stock, feed and equipment.

Weaners have also been distributed to local farmers who are members of the respective ABPOs.

SIART Project Manager William Okekini said the project had also provided pig grower sheds for individual farmers and ABPOs.

“The potential impact of this investment will be huge and has the potential to change the lives of local pig farmers in these communities,” Okekini said.

“We estimate that the 100 breeder sows supplied through the project could produce 2,400 weaners annually, with a potential value of $1.92 million, based on a selling price of $800 per weaner,” he added.

“The project has also supplied 189 weaners to farmers for growing, with a potential value of $567,000 when sold at $3,000 per head, equivalent to approximately 15,000 kilograms of pork meat.”

SIART is also ensuring that piggery ABPOs comply with environmental safeguard standards, including proper housing, waste disposal and management, while promoting animal welfare.

A total of $902,000 has been disbursed to the 20 piggery ABPOs to purchase weaners and feed and support the operation and management of their businesses.

“We also promote the use of locally produced feed, with additional grants provided to establish feed-processing units.

“At the same time, we are prioritising improved pig quality and providing training in feed formulation and quality production,” Okekini said.

Supporting Farmers in Malaita

In Malaita Province, SIART-supported community pig farming projects are helping farmers improve production and household incomes, enabling them to meet expenses such as education and other household necessities.

At Fa’arau Village in Central Kwara’ae, farmer Tom Irosaea said the community had struggled for years to establish a proper breeding facility.

“Our community has been struggling for a long time to have a breeding shelter for our people,” Irosaea said.

“We are so thankful to SIART for supporting us in achieving this dream,” he added.

Irosaea has been a pig farmer for almost 40 years and is now a member of the GIF Piggery Farmers Association, which comprises local farmers from Fa’arau and surrounding communities involved in pig breeding and fattening.

The association is benefiting from a $400,000 SIART grant covering the construction of a breeding and fattening shelter, improved breeding stock, tools and equipment, and a revolving working-capital fund to help members purchase stock and feed.

In nearby Gwaonaoa Village, Anthony Aumae, chairman of Arise Rural Farm Community Company Limited, leads a group of local farmers made up of extended family members.

“For us, the aim is to improve the pig farms of our members in terms of production,” Aumae said.

He described the support from SIART as an important opportunity for local farmers to improve their livelihoods.

Through their association, pig farmers in Gwaonaoa will receive a $200,000 SIART grant to establish a breeding shelter and storage facility.

“This is mainly for the livelihoods of our families because, at the moment, our members find it quite difficult to earn an income for their families.

“This approach by SIART will be effective with time and patience, and all our members are really happy to be involved in this project,” Aumae said.

As the SIART Project prepares to conclude in December 2026, it remains committed to increasing agricultural production and improving market access in selected value chains across Guadalcanal, Malaita and Makira/Ulawa provinces.

SIART is a World Bank-funded initiative implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL).