52
Z. Bird et al.
A Way Forward for Farmers
Strongem Waka lo Community fo Kaikai (SWoCK), SPC and USAID project: ‘Vegetation and land cover mapping and improving food security for building resilience
to a changing climate in Pacific island communities, and ‘Choiseul Province climate
change vulnerability and adaptation assessment’ are few of a many projects and
assessments conducted to assess agricultural vulnerability encountered through
climate-related extreme events to improve agricultural production, awareness and,
promulgate positive attitudes towards food and agriculture resilience in the Solomon
Islands (Mataki et al. 2013; SPC and USAID 2016; United Nations Development
Programme 2016). About 5.4% of the farmers highlighted the lack of information
on climate change and appropriate advice from the Government as a major gap.
About 17.1% of the farmers mentioned that there is a need for respective government ministries to provide information and advice, and to conduct relevant training
in their communities.
The Solomon Islands Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) Sector Policy
2015–2019 highlights extension services as a key policy execution tool for the sector
and its development programs. However, support for extension services is constrained
by low budget allocations (Solomon Islands Government 2015). In 2018, MAL
deployed 140 extension officers throughout Solomon Islands, but none had reached
out to the farmers of the Malu’u and Sikwafata communities. Farmers are willing
to learn and to acquire new knowledge and skills in understanding and responding
to climate change impacts on crop production, yet access to information is one of
the main barriers in rural communities. The integration of traditional and scientific
knowledge is important for the improvement of food production under the impacts of
climate change and it is good to engage church organisations as partners to explain
climate change impacts to rural farming communities. There is also a need to assist
farmers by providing farming equipment and planting materials.
We need awareness … educate communities of climate change impact by the government/NGOs. (Malu’u, age 60)
Government should address/provide clear awareness on climate change to local communities.
(Sikwafata, age 39)
Conclusion
Climate change is one of the main factors affecting farmers’ food production in
Solomon Islands thus affecting food and income security. Yet the majority of the
farmers tend to look at climate change and climate-related extreme events as the
work of God, perhaps as punishment or the fulfilment of biblical prophecies. This
is because information and awareness barriers disadvantage the farmers. Farmers’
religious beliefs and formal education level play a significant role in influencing
their perceptions. This may also reflect a lack of appropriate advice and information
about climate change and its impact on food production. The majority of the farmers
Z. Bird et al.
A Way Forward for Farmers
Strongem Waka lo Community fo Kaikai (SWoCK), SPC and USAID project: ‘Vegetation and land cover mapping and improving food security for building resilience
to a changing climate in Pacific island communities, and ‘Choiseul Province climate
change vulnerability and adaptation assessment’ are few of a many projects and
assessments conducted to assess agricultural vulnerability encountered through
climate-related extreme events to improve agricultural production, awareness and,
promulgate positive attitudes towards food and agriculture resilience in the Solomon
Islands (Mataki et al. 2013; SPC and USAID 2016; United Nations Development
Programme 2016). About 5.4% of the farmers highlighted the lack of information
on climate change and appropriate advice from the Government as a major gap.
About 17.1% of the farmers mentioned that there is a need for respective government ministries to provide information and advice, and to conduct relevant training
in their communities.
The Solomon Islands Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) Sector Policy
2015–2019 highlights extension services as a key policy execution tool for the sector
and its development programs. However, support for extension services is constrained
by low budget allocations (Solomon Islands Government 2015). In 2018, MAL
deployed 140 extension officers throughout Solomon Islands, but none had reached
out to the farmers of the Malu’u and Sikwafata communities. Farmers are willing
to learn and to acquire new knowledge and skills in understanding and responding
to climate change impacts on crop production, yet access to information is one of
the main barriers in rural communities. The integration of traditional and scientific
knowledge is important for the improvement of food production under the impacts of
climate change and it is good to engage church organisations as partners to explain
climate change impacts to rural farming communities. There is also a need to assist
farmers by providing farming equipment and planting materials.
We need awareness … educate communities of climate change impact by the government/NGOs. (Malu’u, age 60)
Government should address/provide clear awareness on climate change to local communities.
(Sikwafata, age 39)
Conclusion
Climate change is one of the main factors affecting farmers’ food production in
Solomon Islands thus affecting food and income security. Yet the majority of the
farmers tend to look at climate change and climate-related extreme events as the
work of God, perhaps as punishment or the fulfilment of biblical prophecies. This
is because information and awareness barriers disadvantage the farmers. Farmers’
religious beliefs and formal education level play a significant role in influencing
their perceptions. This may also reflect a lack of appropriate advice and information
about climate change and its impact on food production. The majority of the farmers