GOVERNMENT through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) this week released cash grant funding totaling $304,234.00 to twenty-eight (28) Agri-Business Producer Organizations.
Most of the beneficiaries are from the three provinces of Guadalcanal, Malaita and Makira.
The funding is provided through the World Bank funded Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation (SIART) project. The goal is to assist 66 ABPO projects by 2026.
The ABPOs comprise of community farmer groupings and family farms involve in cocoa, coconut and small livestock production.
In Malaita 12 ABPOs received their first tranche payment into their ABPO bank accounts: including Kafonaliki Coconut Farmers Association, Green Ag Farm Community Company, Aibilaka Cocoa and Coconut Buying Enterprises, Faufua Cocoa Farmers Association, JED Farmers Association, Ngalifasi Farmers Associations, Taki Farmers Association, Alisuri CCCL, Malaha Farmers Association, Northern Dove Association, Rehoboth Farmers Association and Lamokwa Kindred Farmers Association.
On Guadalcanal, 10 ABPOs received their first tranche payment into their bank accounts including Haevango Cocoa Farmers, CAP Family Enterprise, Atunoda Family Farmer Association, Gold Ridge Community Women Association, MK Farm Fresh Organic Farm, Toromahi Cocoa Community Company Ltd, North Guadalcanal Fruit Tree Association, Ghautina Farmers Association, Makambo Community Company Ltd and RP Family Enterprise,
In Makira, 6 ABPOs received their first tranche payment into their bank accounts including Central Bauro CCL, Vaimatesa Produce Group, RRR Investments Farmers Association, Nukukaisi Agribisnis Networking, IGAU Cocoa Association and Wahia Farmers Association Trust Board.
Cash grants for ABPOs will be utilized by the ABPOs for administration and logistic activities, transport hire and freight, training, labour cost, construction of driers and some minor operational costs.
The 28 ABPOs were some of the first batch of recipients under the SIART project through merit-based applications.
The ABPOs are funded with a total grant of SBD$10,143,519.25. With the target of 66 ABPO projects, total estimated grants will be more than SBD$20,000,000.00.
Each ABPOs has to be registered, has a bank account and has minimum number of 15 household members and maximum of 50 household members.
They also provided 10% of the total funding as their contribution. The total 10% contribution of the 28 signed ABPOs amounted to SBD$1,004,351.93
The World Bank funded SIART project will lapse in December 2026.
- MAL
