Piggery farmers from Malaita’s southern region this week completed a two-day training series designed to boost their productions.

Solomon Islands Agriculture Rural Transformation (SIART), a World Bank-funded initiative implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), delivered the training.

Participants included local pig farmers from the Waiasi Piggery Farmers Association, Mamanaha Indigenous Piggery Farmers Association, Apatarau Tribe, Kauhata Piggery Project, and the Ikoru Raku Farmers Association.

The training forms part of SIART’s broader initiative to support ABPOs with funding, capacity building, and technical assistance to enhance rural livelihoods and agricultural productivity. 

In Malaita Province alone, SIART is backing 16 piggery ABPOs – representing a $6.9 million investment.

The sessions were facilitated jointly by representatives from the SIART Project and Livestock Officers from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) based in Malaita.

Betty Arumae, SIART’s Agribusiness Officer for Malaita Province, highlighted that the training covered critical areas including pig husbandry, animal health, quality standards, marketing, promotion, and farming systems.

“The training was tailored directly to the needs of local farmers,” Arumae said. 

“It provided a valuable refresher on core agricultural practices, covering essential elements like constructing proper housing with clean water access, smart feeding using local ingredients, and caring for sows and piglets,” she added.

Under the animal health module, farmers gained practical knowledge on identifying disease symptoms, implementing biosecurity measures, and administering appropriate treatments.

“Crucially for our ABPOs, we also focused on farm business management,” Arumae added. 

“Farmers learned how to track and maintain records for mating, farrowing dates, litter size, feed mix quantities, and medication logs.”

Farmers were also introduced to quality pig production standards aimed at efficiently raising healthy, lean pigs to meet market preferences and buyer demand.

Fr. Steven Unu’iwao, representing the Waiasi Piggery Farmers Association in Waipina Village, described the training as practical and essential for rural communities.

“This is the first time we have received this depth of information alongside practical demonstrations,” Fr. Unu’iwao said. 

“Managing an agribusiness as a community group is new to us, so this knowledge is vital,” he added.

“We are deeply grateful to the SIART Project for recognizing our needs as local farmers.”

He noted that the skills gained will directly improve local piggery operations and strengthen community agribusinesses across the province.

“Farming is our daily life in rural communities.

“Training like this is especially valuable for those of us living in remote provinces.”

The training series represents another step forward in SIART’s mission to transform Solomon Islands’ agricultural sector through sustainable practices, capacity building, and market linkages – strengthening food security and economic resilience across rural communities.