Japan and MALD launch a five-year SATREPS project to boost sweet potato production and food security nationwide
Researchers from Japan’s Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) Project have paid a courtesy call to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD) Permanent Secretary, Dr. Samson Viulu, marking the commencement of a long-term collaboration to strengthen sweet potato production and food security in Solomon Islands.
During the meeting, Dr. Viulu welcomed the Japanese delegation and expressed appreciation to the Government of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for supporting the initiative.
He described sweet potato as the country’s traditional staple food and stressed the importance of revitalising its production as rice consumption continues to increase, particularly in urban centres.
The delegation included JICA Project Formulation Advisor Masayoshi Kawai, SATREPS Project Coordinator Hayato Ogushi, and Tokai University Project Researcher Dr. Takeshi Kanto.
The project officially commenced in May 2026 following the signing of the Record of Discussions and has now entered its implementation phase with the deployment of long-term experts to Solomon Islands.
Dr. Kanto thanked MALD for its partnership and reaffirmed the research team’s commitment to working alongside local counterparts to improve sweet potato production through science and innovation.
The five-year SATREPS Project, titled “Implementation of a Comprehensive Sweet Potato Seedling Management System for National Food Security,” will establish a tissue culture facility to produce certified disease-free planting materials, strengthen pest and disease management, improve cultivation practices, and develop a national seedling certification system.
Implemented by MALD’s Agriculture Research and Development Department with technical and financial support from JICA, the project is expected to improve national food security, increase farmer incomes, strengthen climate resilience, and enhance the livelihoods of farming communities across Solomon Islands.
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MALD Press Release
