From July 15 to 27, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in partnership with the Kastom Gaden Association, hosted a transformative two-week training.  Part of the ACP MEAs Phase 3 project and founded by the European Union, the initiative aimed to enhance agricultural capacity and promote sustainable farming practices across the Solomon Islands through the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach.

The training gathered 20 participants, 30% of whom were women. The participants came from diverse backgrounds, including Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock (MAL) extension officers, representatives from Rural Training Centres, lead farmers and NGOs from Malaita, Guadalcanal and surrounding provinces.

Participants gained practical experience in sustainable pest management, small livestock breeding, and sustainable harvesting techniques. “The practical nature of the FFS approach gave me new insights into how we can tackle local farming issues. I'm eager to share this knowledge with my community” said one participant from Malaita.

The FFS methodology emphasizes learning by doing, with field exercises such as Rapid Participatory Diagnosis (RPD) to identify and address real-world farming issues. “The field exercises were invaluable. We worked on real farming challenges and collaborated on finding solutions. This training has empowered me. It’s not just about theory, it’s about real solutions that we can apply immediately” shared one Guadalcanal participant. The training also introduced gender-sensitive tools to ensure women are actively involved in agricultural decision-making.

Now equipped with new skills and a renewed sense of purpose, the trained facilitators are ready to lead the development of resilient and sustainable farming systems across the islands. In 2025, they will launch two Farmer Field Schools in Malaita and two in Guadalcanal. These pilot schools will serve as hubs for local communities to address agricultural challenges and promote sustainable farming practices.