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Pathways for food systems transformations and recommendations for decision-makers in Solomon Islands









Farmery, A. K. 2022. Pathways for food systems transformations and recommendations for decision-makers in Solomon Islands. Honiara, FAO. 



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    Policy brief
    Lessening import dependence in Solomon Islands 2022
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    The Solomon Islands Government (SIG) has repeatedly recognised food import dependence as a challenge to food security and economic growth. Import substitution has been a long-term policy priority for the SIG, including policy measures within the Agriculture, Trade, Commerce and Health sectors. Current policy supporting food import substitution includes agricultural production measures, including for home gardening, investment in domestic infrastructure and markets, linkages to enhance access to domestically produced foods, measures to encourage food processing by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and efforts to strengthen consumer demand through public awareness.
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    Project
    Strengthening the Capacity of Farmers and Food Vendors to Supply Safe Nutritious Food in Guadalcanal, Malaita and Temotu Provinces of Solomon Islands - TCP/SOI/3601 2020
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    With more than 1 000 islands covering a total land area of 28 369 km2 spread over 1.3 million km2, and a population of 515 870 (in 2009), the small island developing state and least developed country of Solomon Islands faces significant food security challenges. As the population grows, there is a need to ensure that food is accessible, affordable and nutritious, providing vital nutrients and proteins to support the health of the population. The increased availability of low-cost imported foods high in carbohydrates and fat is changing dietary patterns in the country. FAO’s 2014 Nutrition in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories states that one third of children under 5 are stunted as a result of failing to meet their daily energy and nutrition requirements. Among adults, nearly 30 percent of women and 25 percent of men are overweight while 14 percent of women and nearly 9 percent of men are obese. The combination of stunted children and overweight adults creates a triple burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases. This Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) project was formulated to address these food and nutrition-related challenges by building farmer organizations’ capacities to adopt improved agricultural production methods in order to increase root and cash crop production - and the crop’s market competitiveness relative to imports - contributing to their increased availability. Given the country’s increasing youth population, particularly in rural areas, the project placed emphasis on students and young farmers. It also sought to strengthen market linkages between farmer organizations and school canteens in order to improve the nutrition content of school meals. Finally, it assisted school canteens and food vendors in adding value and processing local foods. Its ultimate aim was to increase the consumption of locally grown foods - especially root crops, which are high in micronutrients - to improve food and nutritional security within rural communities. Farmers’ productivity was enhanced through training in community nurseries and demonstration sites in each province. These nurseries also acted as genebanks where farmers from surrounding communities could access improved planting materials. The training curriculum included soil improvement techniques, diversification and intensification of production, pest and disease management, seed production and storage, and post-harvest management. Students were included in the training in line with the project’s focus on youth.
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    Policy brief
    Policies for healthy and sustainable food systems in Solomon Islands 2022
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    As part of the United Nations Food Systems Summit activities, the Solomon Islands Government engaged in discussions on mechanisms for achieving “Food Systems for Health and Wealth”. Food systems are operationalized across multiple government sectors, including Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Infrastructure, Industry, Trade and Investment, and Finance, and at multiple levels, from national, to provincial, to community. In the Solomon Islands, food systems policies have a strong economic focus, with aims to improve primary production and maximize economic opportunity, particularly through increasing value-adding of agricultural and fisheries products and promoting import substitution.

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