September 7, 2022

Solomon Islands in outreach effort to provide poultry, pig farmers with basic veterinary care

The Solomon Islands' Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), with support from a team of Pacific Partnership 2022 (PP22) veterinarians and vet technicians, is leading an outreach effort to support poultry and pig farmers with basic veterinary care for their livestock, the United States Navy's Pacific Fleet announced.

The mission focuses on the health and welfare of pigs, chickens, goats, ducks, dogs and cats – all of which impact the overall health of the community.

A combined team of MAL and PP22 professionals recently visited identified lead piggeries and poultry farms at the outskirts of Honiara and parts of Guadalcanal. During each stop, they have inspected the facilities and animals and discussed with farmers ideas to improve animal health and productivity. In addition, the MAL-PP group also visited two area slaughterhouses, evaluating food and personnel safety, sanitation and possible ways to refine these efforts.

Findings from the site visits will be shared with both the Poultry Farmers Association and Pig Farmers Association. Those exchanges will include common management and welfare considerations and how to prevent and mitigate common diseases associated with each animal. Furthermore, outreach to farmers in the provinces will be done via MAL's radio programme, Famas Kona, on SIBC. Similarly, common issues identified during the assessments will be discussed through the programme so farmers in the provinces can understand how to deal with these issues if they too encounter them at their farms.

As part of the partnership, both the Solomon Islands and US professionals will discuss how to identify diseases in animals, including diseases that transmit from humans to animals or vice versa, how to prevent new diseases from entering the country and preventing diseases from spreading to areas in the country where they are not currently seen.

"Animals – particularly these — are found in communities all around the world, and we all have different knowledge about raising animals," said US Army veterinarian Katie Stewart. "We are excited about this opportunity to learn from each other and support the farmers of the Solomon Islands."

"I'm grateful for the opportunities that the Pacific Partnership brings to the farmers of the Solomon Islands, where we currently lack veterinary services,"  said Permanent Secretary Ethel Tebengi Frances of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. "We hope to take advantage of this chance to get as much information as possible to improve veterinary care in the country. MAL would also like to acknowledge the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the South Korean government and Delivery Associates (DA) for its funding of advisor Jasmin Johnson and team, who have been instrumental in supporting MAL to work with this group."

Now in its 17th year, Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific.

- US Pacific Fleet