FARMERS in Malaita Province have expressed delight over the recent delivery of agricultural equipment from China’s Jiangsu Province to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) and Malaita Province.
The equipment handover ceremony was held at the JQY Warehouse at Lungga-Henderson Crossroad in Central Guadalcanal on Friday 18 October.
Malaita Province and Jiangsu enjoy a Sister Relationship and the donation of agricultural equipment come under their Sister Relations Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) framework signed in April this year.
This significant contribution has been warmly welcomed by the farming community.
The support includes rice transplanters, rotary tillers, tractors, digital greenhouse tools, rice milling machines, water and sewage pumps, agricultural sprayers and computers for digital monitoring.
These resources are set to enhance operational management and technological development within MAL, ultimately strengthening agricultural infrastructures in Malaita.
A local farmer from the Kwaiafa in West Kwara’ae, Fabian Ngengemani expressed gratitude for China’s support in agriculture.
“While our country faces economic challenges, it’s vital for the government and its developmentpartners to invest in agriculture as this sector is the key driver for economic recovery,” he stated.
Ngengemani, who has been involved in Kava farming for the past eight years, emphasized that China is paving the way for increased agricultural production and market access.
Another farmer, Ben echoed similar sentiments regarding the equipment’s potential impact.
“The majority of Malaitans are farmers and need support not just in equipment, but also in trading opportunities domestically and internationally,” he said.
The Malaita-Jiangsu Sister Relations was ensued by the signing of a three-year Action Plan for friendly exchanges and cooperation in July this year by the Vice Governor of Jiangsu Province, Fang Wei and Malaita Premier Elijah Asilaua.
Premier Asilaua then extended his appreciation to Jiangsu for its assistance, underscoring that the donated tractors and farming management equipment are tangible results of the friendship between the two provinces.
He referred to these contributions as the second wave of donations under the sister relationship and said they reinforce the strong diplomatic ties between Solomon Islands and China.
By SOLOMON LOFANA
Solomon Star, Auki
