BY LIONEL TAORAO – ISLES MEDIA FREELANCER
The Ulawa Bee Farmers Producer Association in Makira-Ulawa Province has received long-awaited beekeeping materials, a major milestone expected to significantly boost honey production and improve rural livelihoods on Ulawa Island.
The official handover ceremony took place on 2 January 2026 at Aosi Village, where Association Chairman Pastor Joseph Tara described the support as a historic breakthrough for local beekeepers.
Speaking at the event, Pastor Tara commended the Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation (SIART) Programme and local farmers for their patience and commitment, noting that the materials were delivered through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) via SIART.
“Today marks a great achievement for us as members of this association. We are receiving our first-ever assistance support from the SIART programme, with materials valued at more than $70,000. This is truly a timely New Year gift for our farmers,” Pastor Tara said.
“What we have waited for over a long period has finally arrived. We sincerely appreciate every effort made to ensure these materials reached Ulawa.”
The equipment distributed included bee wax, bee smokers, hive tools, and protective beekeeping suits, all of which are critical to improving honey production, farmer safety, and hive management.
Pastor Tara further highlighted that the association has set a clear and ambitious target to increase honey production by 70 percent by 2026, a goal aimed at strengthening household incomes, expanding hive numbers, and positioning Ulawa as a key honey-producing area in the province.
Farmers expressed strong optimism following the handover, saying the new materials will enable them to improve productivity and quality, and that they are confident of achieving higher honey yields in 2026.
Testimonies shared during the ceremony by new and beginner beekeepers, who only started beekeeping last year, revealed that their first honey harvest in December generated encouraging income, which is now being used to prepare for their children’s school fees. The association chairman described this as a positive sign of the programme’s immediate impact.
The Ulawa Bee Farmers Producer Association previously applied for a $100,000 grant assistance to support its operations and plans to responsibly utilize the support received to expand hive numbers, increase honey production, and sustain member families through honey-based livelihoods.