Launch of Markets for Change

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Improving Productivity and Income for Vendor Farmers Program was launched in the Solomons Islands, in Honiara. Guests included representatives of the partners in the Markets for Change Project such as Director Extension Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock - Mr. Michael Ho’ota, Manager of Kastom Garden Association (KGA) - Mr. Clement Hadosaia, Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs - Ms. Elsie Wickham, DFAT Australia officer - Ms. Sarah Leary, Malaita Provincial Government - Mr Siosi Linley, Honiara Market Vendors Association Acting President Moreen Sariki, M4C Project Manager UNW – Ms Kristy Nowland, and Chief Guest, UNDP Country Director SI, Ms Azusa Kubota.

UNDP Country Director spoke of how encouraging the M4C project was in how it mobilized so many development partners, the Solomon Islands Government, and NGOs to work together with sister agencies UNDP and UNW, in providing the productivity training that would improve the economic situation of farmers and market vendors. She said that the UN Agencies invest in women's empowerment through farming training because of ripple effects it has on nutrition, and health, education and gender equality. Director Extension Services of Solomon Islands Ministry of Agriculture spoke to how the M4C project goals fit within the programs of the Ministry of Agriculture in assisting farmers in managing their farming businesses more profitably and sustainably.

The training facilitators for the program, KGA, is one of the largest NGOs, and one of the few “Farmer Organizations” in Solomon Islands. KGA has been engaging with growing numbers of farmers in the Solomon Islands since 1993, and has partnered with, among others, AusAid (now DFAT Australia), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), UNDP, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), European Union (EU), and Pacific Islands Farmer Organisation Network (PIFON) on major projects.

The Launch was followed by the first training session, facilitated by KGA trainers Ms  Ronstard Gapu and Ms Mary Timothy, on the topic of Agribusiness & Farm Management. There were 16 participants, of which 8 were men and 8 women.



Malaita Provincial Government’s Mr Linley Siosi, a chinese cabbage farmer on Malaita who regularly visits Honiara, also attended the training and said “I am very satisfied and very happy because this training is one of my learnings and I will take back some of the ideas today”.

Ms Lynneth Lao of Kobito One, on the outskirts of Honiara said the training “was useful” and she “learnt more new things”. The training material covered Farm Risks and Risk Management where pests were discussed. Ms Jenny Charles, of Bebe village, shared that since African Snail had affected her farm, her slippery cabbage plot of more than half a football field in size has been reduced to less than half of what it used to be.

All participants were very appreciative of the training and requested not only more training but that the training be taken to their communities.


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