AGRICULTURE MINISTRY SUPPORTS SIWIBA WITH FUNDS

The Women in Business Association works with women entrepreneurs in both the formal and informal sectors. Photo: SIWIBA

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has signed an agreement to provide funding support to Solomon Islands Women in Business Association members who are doing business in the agriculture sector.

Agrikalsa Nius reports, the 101-thousand dollar deal will help SIWIBA provide capacity building training to empower its members to be economically sustainable in poultry farming, piggery and ornamental or floral arts and design.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry, Jimi Saelea said the Ministry is happy to enter into partnership with SIWIBA, urging them to use the funds wisely and reminded them to report back to the Ministry.

Mr. Saelea said this is another step forward in addressing agriculture, especially for local women who are operating agriculture farming businesses, adding that partnerships as such are needed to help achieve what the ministry requires.

In response, SIWIBA President Dalcy Tekulu thanked the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock for seeing it fit to support the initiative.

Tekulu assured the Ministry that SIWIBA will do its part to ensure the money is put to good use, adding that the funding will definitely help the efforts of SIWIBA in trying to empower women to be economically sustainable.

SIWIBA has a total membership of more than 400 active members and almost half are those running small businesses in agriculture.