The SIART Capacity Building Project Management Unit (PMU) team arrived in Makira Ulawa on Saturday May 24th, ahead of the much-anticipated Training of Trainers (TOT) in Climate-Smart Cocoa Production. The week-long training, running from May 26 to May 30, 2025, is part of a World Bank-funded initiative through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) aimed at improving cocoa productivity and sustainability across Solomon Islands.
This TOT session targets Young Professional Representatives (YPs) and Community Resource Persons (CRPs) affiliated with approved Agribusiness Producer Organizations (ABPOs), along with MAL extension officers from the province. The training is designed to enhance technical knowledge and practical skills in cocoa rehabilitation, farm management, and record keeping, among other best practices.
According to MAL data, Solomon Islands currently has approximately 23 million cocoa trees. A key objective of this training is to help farmers achieve an average yield of 1kg of dried cocoa per tree annually, an ambitious but attainable goal with proper guidance and support.
Earlier this year, the first TOT training under this program was successfully held in North Malaita. Participants there have since begun implementing their projects under various grant agreements, showing promising signs of impact and progress.
The Makira Ulawa TOT is expected to follow suit, offering a crucial boost to local ABPOs and farmers. Manuals, training guides, and other teaching resources will be produced from this session to further support ongoing agricultural extension work in the region.
Looking ahead, the next TOT training under the SIART Capacity Building initiative is scheduled for Guadalcanal Province in June 2025. The inclusion of Malaita, Makira Ulawa, and Guadalcanal in this program reflects the broader commitment of the World Bank and MAL to strengthen Solomon Islands’ cocoa sector through targeted capacity building.
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Thoughts? Iumi stori
[Source: SIART]
