I have been keen to follow the work undertaken by Mal in recent months in terms of its Sustainable Economic Growth and Export Strengthening (SEGES) Programme and with particular emphasis on cocoa crops which in 2019 faced some production challenges.
I am away from the local scene but would be interested in the SEGES Programme and how it dovetails or expands what was intended for agricultural development as set out in the National Development Strategy 2016-2035 and in the Solomon Islands State of Environment Report approved in 2019.
In the SOE report I recall the agricultural sector was said to be the most important sector for the country’s economy but the same report mentioned challenges in developing the agricultural sector, citing climate change bringing about flooding, pests such as the rhinoceros beetle effecting coconut production, soil degradation, limited access to land and a lack of private and public investment, as well as instability in the economic environment.
Most certainly with the advent of Covid-19 the economic environment must have suffered considerably and I have not seen any evidence of private investment in the agriculture development area.
The SOE said that efforts to enhance agricultural production should manage environmental effects as expanding croplands had a range of impacts on loss of forest cover, water quality, and cultural heritage and conservation sites.
In 2021 how have all the SOE identified challenges been met and is the SEGES a sufficient programme to advance agricultural development that earlier development plans for the sector envisaged?
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
