Honiara, 2 July 2025 – The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) has officially launched the China–Solomon Islands Agritech Workshop, a landmark event jointly organized with the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences (JAAS) under the Solomon Islands–China Agricultural Cooperation Framework.
Held at the Livestock Conference Room in Honiara, the workshop marks a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral cooperation in agricultural research, innovation, and knowledge exchange between the Solomon Islands and the People’s Republic of China.
Delivering the keynote address, the Supervising Minister for Agriculture and Minister of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening, Honourable Wayne Ghemu, formally opened the workshop. In his remarks, the Minister highlighted the importance of agriculture to the Solomon Islands economy and its critical role in ensuring food security and building national resilience.
“Agriculture is not just an economic sector, it is a way of life for over 80% of our population,” the Minister stated. “This workshop is a concrete outcome of the MOU signed between MAL and JAAS on 22 July 2024, and demonstrates our shared commitment to sustainable agricultural development.”
The week-long training features technical sessions led by a team of distinguished experts from JAAS, including:
- Professor Yang Jie, expert in rice breeding and cultivation
- Director Ma Yan, specializing in agricultural waste utilization
- Deputy Director Zhu Huanxi, livestock genetic improvement and breeding
- Deputy Director Liu Yuan, agri-product contaminant detection and biocontrol
- Deputy Director Yi Neng, expert in leisure agriculture design
- Associate Professor Liu Fengjun, specialist in vegetable breeding
- Jin Haoran, lead for international agricultural cooperation initiatives
Participants from government ministries, educational institutions, the private sector, and MAL’s technical divisions will engage in sessions on rice cultivation, livestock breeding, organic fertilizers, agro-product quality, farm planning, and more.
Deputy Secretary Technical of MAL, in welcoming participants, emphasized that the workshop represents a new chapter in the Solomon Islands’ effort to modernize and commercialize its agriculture sector.
“This initiative aligns with our national priorities, including increasing food production, promoting import substitution, and building farmer capacity across provinces,” he said.
Since the signing of the MOU, the Solomon Islands has already benefited from a consignment of agricultural equipment from JAAS, including greenhouses, irrigation systems, a tractor, and high-yielding seed varieties. Demonstration plots are being established to introduce improved rice, maize, vegetable, and fruit crop production methods.
The workshop supports the implementation of the Agriculture Sector Growth and Investment Plan (ASGIP) and the National Food Security Program, both aimed at transforming agriculture from subsistence to semi-commercial and commercial farming.
In his closing remarks, Honourable Ghemu expressed deep appreciation to JAAS and the Government of the People’s Republic of China for their continued partnership. He also encouraged local participants to make full use of the opportunity to learn and apply the knowledge in their respective communities.
“Let this training be the first of many impactful collaborations under our MOU,” the Minister said. “Together, let us sow the seeds of innovation, nurture cooperation, and harvest the fruits of sustainable agricultural growth.”
Source: MAL Press Release
