A USD$19m AIM-N project penned today, 3 provinces to benefit

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A USD$19m to be implemented in three provinces under the Agriculture Investment for Markets and Nutrition (AIM-N) Project was launched today in Honiara.

The AIM-N Project is a pioneering initiative that builds on traditional agricultural systems to promote sustainable agricultural practices and strengthen the linkage between nutrition and production systems in rural communities to reduce poverty and malnutrition, enhance food security, improve livelihoods, and empower smallholder farmers.

Supervising minister of agriculture and livestock Wayne Ghemu in launching the project said AIM-N is not just another development project.

“It is a timely and strategic response to the persistent challenges faced by our rural families – particularly women and youth – in securing nutritious food, sustainable incomes, and a future that can withstand the growing pressures of climate change, disasters, and volatile markets,” he said.

Premiers of the three provinces were present to witness the signing ceremony.

Ghemu said the vision of AIM-N is clear: to improve food security, nutrition and household income through empowerment and resilient farming systems.

“This is a goal we share as a government, and it is a commitment we owe to our people of Solomon Islands,” the supervising minister stated.

He added: “The project recognizes that our traditional farming systems, our local food crops, and the wisdom of our Indigenous Peoples are not obstacles, but strengths. AIM-N builds on these strengths by introducing innovative, inclusive and nutrition-sensitive agriculture practices that will benefit over 16,000 people in Solomon Islands – across Western, Choiseul, and Isabel provinces” said Ghemu.

The project is worth USD$19 million and is financed by the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), with technical assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The Government of the Solomon Islands, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), leads national implementation.

The minister acknowledged that in many of “our communities, diets are poor and incomes are low – not due to lack of hard work, but because of lack of opportunity, limited access to markets, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of support for value addition.”

Minister of Finance and Treasury Harry Kuma and Chandra Samekto IFAD Country Director and Representative for Pacific signed the financing agreement.

 This project addresses those gaps head-on.

Ghemu said by working with 6,122 households, 1,800 secondary school students, and 90 micro and small enterprises, AIM-N will create lasting impact – starting from the home garden, to the classroom, to the market and critically, it aims to ensure that at least 50% of all beneficiaries are women and 20% are youth – a strong step forward in the national effort to promote gender equality and empower “our young people.”According to the minister, AIM-N is structured into four strategic components, each reinforcing the other:

1. Action for Nutrition – Empowering families to understand and improve their diets through education and behaviour change, and increasing access to diverse, climate-resilient crops, including local and underutilized species.

2. Inclusive Partnerships for Market Access – Strengthening linkages between smallholders and markets, improving farmer organization governance and supporting partnerships with agribusinesses and schools.

3. Investments in Resilient Agri-Food Systems – Providing grants and loans to support nutrition-sensitive farming, agribusiness growth, and critical rural infrastructure.

4. Rapid Disaster Response – A smart safety net mechanism that can be activated in times of crisis to protect gains made under the project.