The Dodo Creek rice trial records its first harvest as MALD, JAAS and JQY assess rice production potential in Solomon Islands.
The Rice Trial Project at Dodo Creek saw its first harvest yesterday, following a ceremony to officially open the project’s harvesting stage, as the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD), in partnership with the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences (JAAS) of China, and JQY, continues efforts to assess the potential for rice production in Solomon Islands.
The harvesting ceremony brought together MALD officials and technical staff, JAAS rice experts and JQY representatives to witness the results of months of field preparation, planting, crop management and technical support.
Opening the ceremony, MALD Deputy Secretary Corporate and MALD PS Supervising Elda Leah Wate described the occasion as a celebration of hard work, partnership, innovation, and hope for the future of agriculture in Solomon Islands.
She acknowledged the contribution of the interns, JAAS experts, MALD staff and the People’s Republic of China, noting that the project demonstrates the value of cooperation in advancing agriculture and food security.
Mrs Wate added the project aligns with the GREAT governments agriculture policy in building a modern and commercially viable agriculture sector capable of producing more food locally, creating employment and strengthening rural livelihoods.
MALD Deputy Secretary Special Duties Simon Baete said the trial represented an important partnership between policy, science and mechanisation.
“This trial plot is a living testament to what can be achieved when policy, science, and practical mechanization come together,” he said.
He said MALD provided policy direction and extension support, while JAAS contributed agricultural research, climate-smart techniques and high-yield varieties, with JQY supporting the project through machinery, tools and farming infrastructure.
Baete described the harvest as “a launching pad, not a finish line,” saying information and scientific data gathered from the trial would help guide future rice development and potential expansion of commercial rice hubs.
Mr Baete added the GREAT Coalition Government is fully committed to building a productive economy and aggressively pursuing import substitution. Under the flagship policies, ‘Change is Coming’ to the agricultural sector.
“Our strategic ambition is to shift Solomon Islanders away from being mere consumers and transform them into active owners, producers, and self-sufficient food exporters. The exceptional yield potentials demonstrated in these collaborative trial plots prove that we have the soil, we have the climate, and now, we have the technology to feed our own people. Self-reliance is no longer a distant dream; it is an achievable target,” he said.
Dodo Creek landowner Yang Jian Qing said the successful harvest demonstrated what could be achieved through hard work, commitment and continued support. He also highlighted the importance of mechanisation, noting that rice farming is labour-intensive and that modern machinery could improve efficiency and potentially increase yields.
MALD interns have also contributed to the trial by gaining practical experience in rice production while supporting field preparation, planting, crop monitoring, maintenance, data collection and harvesting.
Their involvement has provided hands-on agricultural training and strengthened the transfer of technical knowledge from MALD and JAAS specialists to emerging local agricultural professionals.
Arrangements with JAAS have seen their rice specialists working with the Ministry over a 2-to-3-month period, providing support on rotations. At the harvest stage, two new rice specialists have arrived following the departure of the previous two specialists.
The harvesting of the Dodo Creek trial represents another step towards assessing the viability of rice production and strengthening food security and agricultural development in Solomon Islands.
SOURCE// MALD PRESS RELEASE
