More than 30 agriculture officers serving under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) are currently undertaking further studies in various institutions in the country and abroad to build the capacity of the ministry and improve the agriculture sector.
Minister responsible Franklyn Derek Wasi highlighted this on Parliament on Tuesday.
“I am very pleased to further report that the Ministry is taking concrete steps to address the long-standing capacity gaps that have hindered progress within our sector.
“Currently, 32 of our staff members are undertaking full-time studies to enhance their qualifications in agriculture.
“These individuals are pursuing Diploma and Bachelor’s degrees at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) and the University of the South Pacific’s Samoa Campus.
“This investment in human capital is a critical step in strengthening the Ministry’s technical expertise and long-term service delivery,” he said.
In addition, the minister said, another staff member is nearing completion of a PhD in Soil Science at Massey University in New Zealand.
“These academic accomplishments are not just personal milestones for the individuals involved—they represent significant gains for the Ministry and the broader agricultural sector in the Solomon Islands. “They equip us with the technical depth and research capacity needed to better tackle the complex challenges we face in modern agriculture.
“We might be the only ministry upgrading its staff at such a big scale and that shows how serious we are in addressing the long over-due issues affecting the sector,” he told Parliament.
He further informed the House that one of the ministry’s staff recently graduated from Japan which is a bonus for the government.
“Furthermore, I am proud to highlight that one of our staff members has recently graduated from the prestigious University of Tokyo with a Master of Science in Agricultural Resource Economics—a commendable achievement that brings new knowledge and international exposure to our Ministry,” he said.