BY LESLEY FOINAGWA – ISLES MEDIA FREELANCHER
WEST KWAIO Constituency in Malaita Province is continuing its Coconut Rehabilitation Program throughout 2025, targeting three key wards—Ward 26, Ward 27, and Ward 28—as part of its ongoing constituency development efforts.
With continued support and community involvement, the constituency aims to restore coconut farming to its former glory, ensuring it remains a sustainable source of income and food security for future generations.
Launched in 2023, the project was introduced as a major initiative to revive and strengthen the coconut industry in the region. To date, the program has successfully distributed over 30,000 coconut seedlings to local farmers, marking a significant step in revitalizing coconut farming in the constituency.
Coconut plays a vital role in the livelihoods of the people of West Kwaio, serving as both a source of income and a staple for local consumption. However, traditional coconut plantations, once established by grandparents and great-grandparents in the 1980s and earlier, have been in decline. Many of these older farms were left unattended by younger generations, leading to a drop in coconut production.
Recently, however, a renewed interest in coconut farming has emerged, driven by rising market demand and prices. Young people across West Kwaio are now taking the initiative to clean up abandoned coconut plantations, with some even planting new coconut trees.
The Coconut Rehabilitation Program is helping to fuel this resurgence by supporting farmers and encouraging the restoration of coconut farming traditions. Among the various agricultural activities in the region, coconut farming remains the most widely practiced in West Kwaio compared to other sectors.