Solomon Islands

ACIAR's position in the Pacific islands will continue to develop in line with broader Australian development assistance priorities. There is an increasing awareness of the importance of changing economic and environmental situations, and the vulnerability of small developing island states if flexibility and adaptation to change are not achieved. The Pacific islands countries have a range of challenges including eroding tariff preferences, population and urban growth, migration of skilled labour, resource depletion and degradation, and risks from climate change. As described in Pacific 2020-challenges and opportunities for growth , ineffective policy implementation is seen as a significant impediment to development and progress.

Agriculture, forestry and fisheries sustain many households and will comprise the majority of livelihoods of Pacific islands countries for the foreseeable future. Many smallholders live in isolated rural communities dependent on household food production and intermittent crop, fish and small livestock sales. Improving and transforming these systems into sustainable income-generating activities through improved productivity and marketing will enhance self-reliance and reduce poverty over time, as will diversification into new activities.

The development of an agriculture-enabling environment is an ongoing objective. Participation in regional projects that address common problems, where appropriate, will help overcome the limited capacity of many countries to engage in collaborative activities. ACIAR has a strong emphasis on working with Pacific regional organisations to improve effective delivery of outputs. In partnership with the University of the South Pacific, ACIAR will implement a scholarships program designed to increase capacity in the region through the allocation of Postgraduate Diploma and Masters Degree scholarships for research associated with ACIAR projects in the Pacific.

Relationship to the AusAID regional strategy

AusAID's Pacific Regional Aid Strategy 2004-09 identifies four key themes: stronger broad-based growth; more effective, accountable and democratic government; improved law, justice and security; and enhanced service delivery. These themes are further underlined in the Pacific 2020 report with a commitment to address governance and institutions, infrastructure, regional cooperation and implementation of programs.

ACIAR's Pacific program, through its three research emphases (increased productivity and diversification through new crops, products and value-adding; development of sustainable management systems; underpinning of systems development, economics, marketing and biosecurity), contributes to these objectives primarily in the thematic area of broad-based economic growth. In fisheries, ACIAR will work in cooperation with AusAID's new Pacific fisheries strategy developed in 2007.

Country-specific issues

The recent civil conflict caused stagnation or collapse in the production and export of many commodities. Fish, timber, copra, palm oil and cocoa were previously substantial exports, along with minerals such as gold. Opportunities exist for ACIAR to participate in activities designed to resuscitate and redevelop export industries such as oil palm. Most Solomon Islanders live in isolated rural communities dependent on subsistence agriculture and intermittent crop and small livestock sales, although many also have access to more lucrative urban markets.

ACIAR's Solomon Islands program has had a strong fisheries emphasis, including economic and technical research to support the development of sustainable livelihood opportunities based on the culture of coral reef animals. Income generation initiatives, particularly in rural areas, remain important in the broader scheme of economic and social recovery in Solomon Islands, and much of this necessarily needs to be in horticulture, forestry and fisheries. There are opportunities for smallholders to exploit lucrative market niches for high-value horticultural crops, value-added products and other diversified products, particularly in the developing urban markets. Widespread community interest in the planting of teak offers a development opportunity that is highly suited to ACIAR intervention. ACIAR will continue to develop further opportunities for specific linkages with AusAID's Transitional Support for Agriculture Program and subsequent initiatives as they come into operation, and will interact with the World Bank and European Union as they prepare an Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy for Solomon Islands.