Putting Rural Farmers In The Driving Seat

A training aimed at empowering cocoa farmers in the North Malaita Constituency with practical skills and knowledge to enhance their farming practices for increased production was successfully held at Manakwai in North Malaita from March 10th to 13th, 2025.

The training was initiated and funded by the North Malaita Constituency (NMC) Office in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL).

Facilitated by MAL technical officers, the training involved both theoretical and practical field sessions.

“Following our delivery of agriculture and fisheries equipment and tools to the constituency in January 2025, we have developed follow-up activities and this training is a part of it,” Francis Baeburi, the Constituency Accountant Officer (CAO), who spoke on behalf of the Constituency office said.

The program activities focused on the appropriate use of farming tools, cocoa plant management practices such as pruning and grafting techniques including soil testing.

“Farmers were excited and expressed satisfaction at having learned firsthand information and knowledge from specialized MAL officers and are highly encouraged,” Mr. Baeburi added.

“As part of the constituency's annual development plan and commitment, our primary aim is to encourage our people to actively participate in the rural productive sector and improve productivity particularly in cocoa as the basis for improved rural economy. This we believe will lead toward economic self-reliance for our households.”

Mr. Baeburi, on behalf of the NMC office, expressed profound gratitude to MAL for accepting their request to conduct the training, ensuring that farmers acquired important knowledge and skills in agricultural practices to enhance their farming production.

Mr. Baeburi also extended his appreciation to all farmers for their patience, time, and participation, which contributed to the success of the training.

He encouraged participants to utilize the skills and knowledge they acquired and to share the information with others who were unable to join the training.

“Our next follow-up activity will focus on fisheries and will be scheduled soon after consultation with the responsible ministry.

“These activities are a continuation and ongoing implementation of our 2024 work plan. We look forward to improving on what we have started once the CDF budget for this year is available,” Mr. Baeburi said. The current farmers program was funded by NMC Office under its CDF budget for 2024.

The MRD, while commending the collaboration between MAL and the Constituency Office for the successful training, said that the partnership to deliver Constituency Development Programs (CDP) is a way forward for the country.

“This kind of inter-governmental agency partnership in delivering rural development initiatives such as this is encouraging and important. It is the ministry’s (MRD) plan now, going forward, to collaborate with technical ministries in terms of resources and information sharing to deliver government services for our people in the rural communities across the 50 constituencies.”

MRD remains committed to continuing to support constituency offices with resources to effectively implement their development programs aimed at improving social and economic livelihoods in rural areas.

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