OVER 16,000 people across Western, Choiseul, and Isabel provinces are expected to benefit from the $160 million (USD19m) project.
Supervising Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Wayne Ghemu confirmed this during the launch of the Agriculture Investment for Markets and Nutrition (AIM-N) project in the opening of the five days workshop in Honiara on Monday.
The AIM-N Project is a pioneering initiative that builds on traditional agricultural systems to promote sustainable agricultural practices and strengthen the linkage between nutrition and production systems in rural communities to reduce poverty and malnutrition, enhance food security,
Minister Ghemu said the project recognizes that our traditional farming systems, our local food crops, and the wisdom of our Indigenous Peoples are not obstacles, but strengths.
”In many of our communities, diets are poor and incomes are low – not due to lack of hard work, but because of lack of opportunity, limited access to markets, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of support for value addition. This project addresses those gaps head-on.
“By working with 6,122 households, 1,800 secondary school students, and 90 micro and small enterprises, AIM-N will create lasting impact – starting from the home garden, to the classroom, to the market,” he said.
“And critically, it aims to ensure that at least 50% of all beneficiaries are women and 20% are youth – a strong step forward in our national effort to promote gender equality and empower our young people.
AIM-N is structured into four strategic components, each reinforcing the other:
- Action for Nutrition – Empowering families to understand and improve their diets through education and behaviour change, and increasing access to diverse, climate-resilient crops, including local and underutilized species.
- Inclusive Partnerships for Market Access – Strengthening linkages between smallholders and markets, improving farmer organization governance and supporting partnerships with agribusinesses and schools.
- Investments in Resilient Agri-Food Systems – Providing grants and loans to support nutrition-sensitive farming, agribusiness growth, and critical rural infrastructure.
- Rapid Disaster Response – A smart safety net mechanism that can be activated in times of crisis to protect gains made under the project.
The project is worth USD$19 million and is financed by the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), with technical assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The Government of the Solomon Islands, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), leads national implementation.
Under the project, Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) provided a grant of US$ 7.5 million, while International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is providing a highly concessionary loan of US$9.3 million under its IFAD12 PBAS allocation.
Other financiers include the Government of Korean who provides a grant of US$2 million contribution from the govt, beneficiaries as well as financial institutions.
Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) will provide technical assistance.
The duration of the project is 6 years with the completion date of 31 March 2031.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
Solomon Star, Honaira
