BY ALICE T CAMPBELL
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD) recorded 142 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) under its 2026 call for applications for the Commercial Rice Development Programme (CRDP) and Poultry Production Strengthening Programme (PPSP).
A statement from the Ministry last Friday said the strong response highlights growing national interest in commercial agriculture and reinforces the importance of these programmes in supporting food security, economic growth, and import substitution in the Solomon Islands.
MALD said from the total EOIs received, the majority were poultry-related projects, particularly proposals for broiler and layer farm establishments.
“This trend reflects increasing confidence among farmers and agribusinesses in the poultry sector as a viable investment opportunity.
“The Ministry noted that the high level of participation shows readiness among local stakeholders to expand domestic production and respond to rising demand for poultry products,” the statement said.
The Ministry said while there is interest in rice farming initiatives, it remains comparatively low, meaning that there is need for continued awareness and targeted support to stimulate investment in domestic rice production.
The EOIs as noted, form part of the Ministry’s broader strategy to address key challenges that are affecting the agriculture sector and of which include; high reliance on imported food, limited production capacity, and underdeveloped value chains.
MALD through its Poultry Production Strengthening Programme (PPSP), aims to tackle constraints such as high feed costs, limited access to quality day-old chicks, and gaps in veterinary and extension services.
“The programme is designed to enhance productivity, improve market access, and support sustainable growth within the poultry industry,” the statement said.
As for the Commercial Rice Development Programme (CRDP), it seeks to boost local rice production in Guadalcanal and Malaita province, with the long-term goal of reducing dependence on imported rice and strengthening national food security.
The Ministry is now moving into the evaluation phase of the EOI process which includes the assessment of and shortlisting of applicants which will be followed by technical planning and implementation.
“The Ministry acknowledges and commends all applicants for their strong interest and participation and remains committed to supporting commercially viable agricultural investments that contribute to the country’s development priorities,” the statement said.
The Ministry’s EOI submission breakdown is as follows;
-MALD EOI-001 has 3 EOI applications for the establishment of a 19,000 egg capacity hatchery in Honiara/Guadalcanal
– MALD EOI – 002 has 2 EOI applications for the establishment of a 10,000 egg capacity hatchery in Honiara/Guadalcanal
– MALD EOI – 003 has 1 EOI application for the establishment of a 5,000 bird poultry parent flock farm in Honiara/Guadalcanal
– MALD EOI – 004 has 9 EOI applications for the establishment of a combined 100 ha maize(corn) production on Guadalcanal
– MALD EOI – 005 has 5 EOI applications for the establishment of a commercial feed mill in Honiara/Guadalcanal
– MALD EOI – 006 has 50 EOI applications for the establishment of 1,000 broiler bird farms in Honiara/Guadalcanal
– MALD EOI – 007 has 71 EOI applications for the establishment of 1,000 layer bird farms in Honiara/Guadalcanal
– MALD EOI – 008 has 1 EOI application for the establishment of 30 ha rice farm in Guadalcanal and 30 ha in Malaita
Photo: Supplied
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