15 October 2026
Copra and cocoa farmers in the
Kolotubi and Kolomola Wards of the Hograno-Kia-Havulei (HKH)
Constituency in Isabel Province now have a dedicated place
to store and sell their produce, following the handover of a
copra storage and buying centre to the Kaevanga Community
Development Association (KCDA) on 7 October 2026.
The
facility was funded under the 2025 Rural Sustainable
Development Program (RSDP) and delivered in partnership with
the Solomon Islands Government and the People’s Republic
of China (PRC). It will serve farmers in Kolotubi and
Kolomola Wards of HKH Constituency.
The HKH
Constituency received SBD$1.5 million under the second phase
of the China-funded RSDP in 2025. The funds were facilitated
by the Constituency Office under the leadership of Member of
Parliament and former Prime Minister, Honourable Jeremiah
Manele.
The allocation was split equally between
agriculture and fisheries. SBD$750,000 went to KCDA to
establish the buying centre, provide working capital for
farmers, construct and equip dryers, rehabilitate
plantations, support livestock activities, and meet
transportation and other programme logistics. The remaining
half is directed to seaweed farming under the fisheries
component in Havulei, Kia and Katova Wards, a project
scheduled to launch soon.
“Hograno is the most
agriculture-rich part of our Constituency, and its people
are among the most hardworking in the province, from our
farmers to our business-minded families. Community companies
such as Varivao began right here,”Honourable Jeremiah
Manele said in his keynote address as guest of honour at the
ceremony.
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He said, “it is in recognition of this
history, strength and comparative advantage that I decided
to allocate half of the second phase of the PRC RSDP funds
to KCDA for agriculture-related activities. I look forward
to attending the handover ceremonies for the seaweed
activities once they are completed.”
Hon. Manele
expressed his sincere gratitude to the PRC for its generous
support, and to MRD for facilitating the RSDP in
constituencies across the country.
“Our focus on
agriculture and fisheries is in line with the policies of
past and present governments to prioritise the productive
sector. Agriculture will remain the backbone of our economy.
I encourage all our farmers to keep working hard,” he
added.
He thanked KCDA Chairman Dudley Longamei for
his vision, leadership and commitment in pursuing the
project, as well as the members, farmers and families who
are part of the cooperative.
“I know it is not easy
and there are challenges, but with dedication you have come
this far. It is my intention to expand and replicate these
activities in other parts of the Constituency where there is
potential for agriculture development. I will be asking
Chief Longamei and his team to reach out to other parts of
the Constituency so that more communities can
benefit.”
KCDA began buying copra in June 2026.
Since then, it has bought about 580 bags of dried copra and
26 bags of dried cocoa beans from local farmers and sold
them to markets in Honiara. The centre brings market access
to farmers’ doorsteps, allowing them to sell copra and
cocoa locally without arranging their own sales in
Honiara.
KCDA Chairman and Chief Dudley Longamei said
the results are already being felt in
households.
“Behind every bag is the hard work of a
farmer. Behind every sale is income reaching a family,” he
said, noting that the income goes towards school fees,
household needs and small businesses.
“KCDA is
building a local agricultural value chain linking
production, drying and processing, buying and marketing.
This is how rural economic development begins: not simply by
producing more, but by creating a reliable pathway for our
farmers to turn their production into
income.”
Chairman Longamei said the programme with
the RSDP funding has supported the establishment of the KCDA
copra and cocoa buying centre, copra and cocoa dryers,
farming tools and inputs, plantation rehabilitation,
nurseries and new planting, and kava, poultry and piggery
activities. Families and farmers reached include:
•
Coconut: 368 families, involving
approximately 41,345 coconut plants
•
Cocoa: 276 families, involving
approximately 21,200 cocoa plants
•
Kava: 539 families, involving approximately
18,512 kava plants
“This assistance represents far
more than financial support for a project. It is an
investment in our farmers, our communities and our shared
future,” he said.
Chairman Longamei on behalf of the
KCDA Board and Management and farmers express sincere
gratitude to PRC for the financial support and assured PRC
and the MRD of their commitment to good governance,
financial management, transparency and accountability, and
to ensuring that facilities, equipment and other assets are
properly maintained, protected and put to productive
use.
“Our responsibility now is not only to account
for what has been entrusted to us, but also to protect it,
build upon it and ensure that its benefits continue to reach
our farmers and communities for years to come.”
He
said KCDA’s priorities are to strengthen its commercial
operations and governance, support essential infrastructure,
expand access to finance and markets, and become financially
sustainable and less dependent on external
funding.
“The facilities we hand over today give us
a foundation. The responsibility before us is to build upon
it and take KCDA to the next level. Our ambition goes beyond
producing raw commodities. We want our farmers and
communities to participate in trade, marketing and creating
greater value from what we produce,” he
said.
Speaking on behalf of the Government, MRD
Permanent Secretary John Misite’e congratulated KCDA and
its members on the milestone and highlighted the importance
of strong governance, socially cohesive communities and
strong leadership.
He recognised the strategic
foresight of MP Manele in bringing the investment to his
people, and thanked the Constituency Office for its
continued support to farmers.
PS Misite’e
acknowledged the PRC’s sustained commitment to RSDP and to
improving the lives of Solomon Islanders, as well as the
trust placed in MRD to implement the program.
“This
achievement demonstrates the partnership between our
governments and the shared commitment to improving the
socio-economic livelihoods of rural communities,” he
said.
“Today’s handover is just the beginning of
the journey we are taking together. I challenge you to take
responsibility to ensure this facility benefits the local
economy and the community.
“You are fortunate to
have this facility, and fortunate to have a leadership that
understands and responds to the needs of the community.
Build on it. Take care of it. Nourish it. And grow
it.”
Constituency Development Officer Apollos
Manegere, speaking for the Constituency Office, also
acknowledged the PRC’s support.
“It was PRC
funding, through the Rural Sustainable Development Program,
that made this project possible. For our people in the
villages, that support matters, and we do not take it
lightly.
“From today, this project is yours to look
after. Maintain it, use it well, and make sure it continues
to serve you, your family and your community, not only now,
but for the years ahead,” Mr Manegere said.
During
the program, Hon. Jeremiah Manele, Permanent Secretary John
Misite’e and their team also visited KCDA member farmers
and inspected the association’s cocoa and copra dryers,
which were established with funding and support under the
agriculture program.
The handover was attended by MRD
Permanent Secretary John Misite’e and MRD staff; Member of
Parliament for HKH Constituency Hon. Jeremiah Manele; ward
provincial members; government representatives; chiefs,
elders and community leaders; KCDA Board members; and
farmers, women, youth and
children.
