A SIART media release published on the Solomon Islands Government portal says $8.7 million has been invested in 20 community groups running pig farming projects in three provinces.

The release, dated Tuesday 29 September in Honiara, said Malaita Province has 16 of the groups, Guadalcanal Province 3 and Makira/Ulawa Province 1, and that 532 households have improved livelihoods, with around 3,000 individuals benefitting.

SIART helped establish pig houses, breeding stock, feed and equipment, and handed weaners to farmers belonging to the groups, the release said. Grower sheds were also supplied, either to individual farmers or to a group collectively, SIART Project Manager Mr. William Okekini said.

"We are estimating 2,400 weaners produced per annum from the 100 breeder sows supplied which is valued at $1.92 million. That is if they sell at $800 per weaner," Mr. Okekini said. He said 189 weaners had also gone to farmers to grow out, "with the potential value of $567,000 when sold at $3,000 per head or approximately 15,000 kg of pork meat".

The release said $902,000 was paid to the 20 piggery groups for weaners, feed and the running of their organisations. In Malaita, it said, the GIF Piggery Farmers Association at Fa'arau Village in Central Kwara'ae has a $400,000 SIART grant covering a breeding and fattening shelter, stock, tools, equipment and a revolving fund.

Tom Irosaea of Fa'arau Village said in the release: "Our community has been struggling for a long time to have a breeding shelter for our people."

Farmers at Gwaonaoa village will get a $200,000 grant for a breeding shelter and storage house, the release said, quoting Arise Rural Farm Community Company Limited chairman Mr. Anthony Aumae: "For us the aim is to improve the pig farms of our members in terms of production." The release said the project ends in December 2026, that the World Bank funds SIART and that the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) implements it.

Source: Source: SIART media release, "SIART boosting community pig farming projects", published on the Solomon Islands Government portal (solomons.gov.sb) on 30 September 2026 and dated Tuesday 29 September, Honiara. https://solomons.gov.sb/siart-boosting-community-pig-farming-projects/