ADRA completes cocoa IPDM and post-harvest training for 22 farmers in West Marovo, covering nursery, pruning, grafting and farm management.
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) through its Sustainable Economical Agricultural Solution (SEAS) Project has successfully completed a two-day Cocoa Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) and Post Harvesting Training for existing and newly interested Cocoa Farmers in West Marovo, Western Province.
The Cocoa IPDM training was funded by Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) which was held at Buinitusu and Vanua Kino Village on Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 September 2026.
Local Cocoa Consultant Robert Waisu was hired to conduct the training, which included both classroom and practical sessions. The training aimed to strengthen farmers’ knowledge and practical skills in cocoa nursery establishment, farm management, pruning, grafting, and other important cocoa production practices.
A total of 22 participants from Rukutu, Bukibuki, Michi, Ngaringari, Buinitusu, Vanua Kino and Bareho attended the training.
The training covered the following topics: Introduction to cocoa farming, Background and history of cocoa in Solomon Islands, Current cocoa marketing trends overseas, Nursery site selection and nursery establishment, Site and soil selection, Filling poly bags for nurseries, Selection of cocoa pods and seeds, Seed planting methods, Top grafting, Side grafting, Pruning, Lining and triangular spacing, Field application, Skirting method, Different methods of pruning,Chupon pruning,Inter-row cocoa pruning, Height control and tipping,Circle or ring weeding and Shade pruning.
Terry Kimi from Vanua Kino after the training shared that he has already started planting cocoa and has a hectare of cocoa plantation that his family started several years ago.
“Cocoa is not new to me. We already have a cocoa plantation on our land here, and we have started selling dried cocoa beans in Honiara’’
“One of the challenges for us was knowing the proper spacing when planting cocoa, including how to measure the correct spacing, as well as formation and proper pruning. This training has taught me a lot about these practices.
“Big thanks to DFAT through ADRA for providing this training, which has helped us understand how to properly plant and manage cocoa, from the nursery stage through to marketing,” Mr Kimi from Vanua Kino said.
Ilum Bolasi from Ngaringari, who attended the training, shared that the training had helped him learn how to establish a proper cocoa nursery.
“I did not know much about nursery establishment and planting cocoa because I spend most of my time at sea and in the garden. I did not have much knowledge about cocoa as a crop.”
“But now, this training has helped me learn how to establish a proper nursery and plant cocoa using the correct lining and measurements,” Mr Bolasi said.
Milon Marlone from Bareho Village also thanked the Australian Government for funding the training through the SEAS Project.
“Thank you for this training and for the new ideas on planting cocoa, which we did not know about before this training was conducted.”
“We are people who depend mainly on fishing, but this training has encouraged us to focus more on our land, especially by planting cocoa,” Mr Marlone said.
Derol Deku from Buinitusu Village also shared that cocoa is a new crop for him and that he is interested in learning the proper methods of planting and managing it.
“I plant coconut, but cocoa is a new crop for me. I will start planning to plant cocoa here because it is an important commercial crop.”
“Thanks to the Australian Government for funding this important training for us. It will help us start venturing into cocoa as a livelihood initiative,” Mr Deku said.
Meanwhile, ADRA Solomon Islands, through SEAS Project, will continue conducting Cocoa IPDM and Post-Harvest Training in other communities across Western Province.
SOURCE// ADRA Solomon Islands Press Release
