16/12/2025
๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ: ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐
๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ
(๐ต๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐ )
๐ท๐โ๐๐ก๐: ๐ด ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ฟ๐๐ข ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐๐ โ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐
In Takwa Village, melon farming isnโt just farming โ itโs a way of life.
It helps put food on the table, supports household income, and supplies melons all the way to Honiara Central Market.
But behind the success stories are some real struggles.
According to local farmers, transportation is the biggest challenge. Getting melons from Takwa to Honiara is expensive at every step:
๐ ๐๐ง๐ช๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ผ๐ช๐ ๐
๐ข ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐ผ๐ช๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐
๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ฅ๐ค๐ง๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐พ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ก ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ
For large farms, costs can reach $10,000 or more โ just for transport.
For example, two trucks alone can cost around $6,000, shipping adds more, tranfortation for point cruz wharf to Central Market plus market fees and sometimes overnight storage. By the time everything is paid, many farmers go home with little profit โ or even a loss.
Melon farming and other forms of agriculture have significant potential in rural areas of the Solomon Islands. However, realizing this potential requires strong support from government authorities and development partners. Key areas of support include improving transportation infrastructure, access to markets, farming inputs, and technical assistance. Strengthening these areas will help enhance rural livelihoods, increase incomes, and promote sustainable agricultural development.
