World Bank’s AgriConnect could help Solomon Islands expand agribusiness, create jobs and boost rural incomes
Wednesday 29 July, Honiara – World Bank representatives have highlighted that there is an opportunity for Solomon Islands to benefit from its AgriConnect initiative.
AgriConnect is a World Bank Group initiative to help smallholder farmers move from subsistence to surplus. It is a platform that brings together farmers, business, government, and development partners to unlock opportunities across the agricultural value chain and transform agriculture to create more jobs, raise income levels for 300 million farmers, and improve global food security.
World Bank’s Senior Agriculture Specialist, Mr. Abimbola Adubi made a presentation on AgriConnect in Honiara on Friday 17 July 2025 at the Heritage Park Hotel, in the presence of the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Hon Franklyn Derek Wasi, Permanent Secretary, Dr Samson Viulu and officials from the Ministry and representatives from the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC) and the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MOFT).
Mr. Adubi was in Honiara leading a World Bank team for the seventh implementation support mission for the Solomon Islands Agriculture Rural Transformation (SIART) Project from 13 – 17 July, 2026.
SIART Project is a World Bank-funded initiative by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) aiming to boost agricultural production, improve market access, and build resilient rural livelihoods across Guadalcanal, Malaita, and Makira/Ulawa provinces.
The project, which ends in December this year, centers on supporting farmers and agri-entrepreneurs through structured Agribusiness Producer Organizations (ABPOs).
With the achievements of the SIART and its sustainability in mind after the project ends, the World Bank is proposing the introduction of AgriConnect
“In terms of sustainability and next steps, this is where the element of AgriConnect becomes very important,” Mr. Adubi.
This will enhance productivity and ensure that the small and medium scale agribusinesses are functioning and are creating employment.
Minister of Agriculture, Hon Wasi made known his support towards these discussions and re-emphasized on the need for continuity in the SIART project by building on the successes and achievements of the project.
“Similar to the AgriConnect of PNG including initiatives to strengthen the commercial capacities of Agribusiness Producer Organizations (ABPOs) in order for them to be able to be bankable.
“Agriculture in Solomon Islands need further support in terms of economic infrastructures for value adding and post-harvest storages, reliable and affordable transport schemes, credit-worthiness for rural based entrepreneurs, access to markets through farmer-market networks and others,” the Minister said.
To date the SIART Project has established and supports the operations of 96 Agribusiness Producer Organizations (ABPOs), 45 in Malaita Province, 32 in Guadalcanal Province and 19 in Makira/Ulawa Province.
With this, there’s the opportunity to bring in the private sector based on the achievements of the SIART Project and explore how AgriConnect can come into play in Solomon Islands.
“We won’t allow the good work done by SIART to stop when the project ends. We want to find a way of resonating it and bring in private sector attention in line with the AgriConnect program,” Mr. Adubi said.
The World Bank plans to workshop the AgriConnect initiative with key stakeholders, private sector, Government and all value chain actors in Solomon Islands in the not-too-distant future.
This will create a platform of awareness to explore opportunities for the private sector to invest in the agriculture sector and play a vital role through the AgriConnect initiative in such a way that supports the creation of jobs and enhance productivity in Solomon Islands and ensure that the value chains are active.
- SIART Media Release
