THE Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) through its Makira-Ulawa Province Extension office has boosted Maepua model farm in Central Makira with the delivery of new agricultural machines.
MAL-based Makira-Ulawa extension officers officially handed over the inputs worth around $33,000.00 to Maepua Model farm through Barnabas Tolei and a farmer group consists of over 32 registered food crops farmers from Kaonasughu to Hao, West Bauro in central Makira constituency, recently.
The inputs included a power tiller machine or a walking tractor, a Power Base Garden Tiller along with their gears.
Principal Field Officer for Makira-Ulawa Province, Petra Urahora said the machines will help the farmers improve labour efficiency and their farming system and practices in order to help to enhance their food security and livelihood in combating Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and also be able to have surplus food crops for small income for farming families.
“The program is designed to promote and support safe, sufficient and nutritious food for families and everyone in order to help combat the increasing rate of Non-Communicable Disease (NDC) in Makira province and the country as whole,” Mrs. Urahora added.
She said that other farming issues to be addressed under the project to ensure sustainable production of nutritious food readily available in target communities include:
- Nutritional related disorders (increase in NCD) in Makira
- Climate risks and impacts,
- Soil degradation (Soil health issues),
- Pest and diseases infestation and conservation of plant genetic resources (Conserving and preserving of our indigenous crops).
She said Maepua model farm is MAL’s first funded food security model farm to be established in central Makira apart from other food production model farms established in Makira in the past under Non-Government Organisations (NGOs).
“The project will benefit 15 communities and two National Secondary schools which include Waimapuru NSS and Saint Stephen Pamua NSS as the Maepua model farm catchment area covers Kaonasughu to HAO.
“Currently a total of 32 farmers have registered with Maepua food security model farm and the number of members will increase in the near future to 40 or 50 farmers (members). Maepua model farm has a management committee to coordinate farm trainings for its members, work activities on-farm/and members farm plots and support with movement of the farm machinery to support other members at their communities or schools,” Mrs. Urahora said.
Recipients of the project conveyed their gratitude to MAL and UNDP for their collaboration and great support and especially for the timely assistance during this time of Covid-19.
Mrs. Urahora also thanked MAL and UNDP for the support rendered.
The programme was part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) National Food Security and Enhancement program under its Model Farm project aimed at Promoting and assisting vulnerable communities to improve Food and Nutritional status to ensure every household have access to nutritious food to promote healthy and happy family and to reduce increased cases of Nutrition Disorders in the Solomon Islands.
Under the programme, MAL together with UNDP and its stakeholders will deliver the following activities;
- Development of model farms/gardens,
- Training programmes on health, nutrition and agriculture jointly delivered through MAL and Ministry of Health extension networks and
- Distribution of seeds, equipment and tools.
The Model Farm Projects is being implemented in six provinces which include; Makira, Isabel, Central Islands, Choiseul, Western, and Guadalcanal province.
The machines were procured by the UNDP Solomon Islands Markets for Change (M4C) Project with funds from the UN COVID-19 Response and Recovery Multi-Partner Trust Fund with approval from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL)
