Food Security and Asset Creation in Solomon Islands: Gender and the Political Economy of Agricultural Production for Honiara Central Market

Nichole Georgeou,Charles Hawksley,Melina Ki’I,James Monks

doi:10.5130/pjmis.v16i1-2.6542

Nichole Georgeou, Charles Hawksley + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5130/pjmis.v16i1-2.6542

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Abstract

This article presents data from a 2017 survey of vendors selling fresh produce at the Honiara Central Market (HCM) over a twelve week period from July-September. It aims to understand the economic contribution of vendors to their communities, and in particular of producer-vendors. Detailed geospatial mapping of the origin of produce sold at HCM illustrates the scope of production for market. Data shows that 70 percent of all produce comes from villages on Guadalcanal to the east of Honiara, with intensive production for market also to the West of Honiara, from Central Province (Savo, Nggelas), and important market trade from parts of Malaita, and New Georgia. There is very limited engagement with HCM from Choiseul and Temotu, and none from Makira and Renbel. The data also indicates that the majority of producer-vendors at the HCM are women, and that the average sale of fresh produce on Fridays generates amounts of income higher than the minimum daily wage. We examine these findings using a lens of food security with a focus on asset creation. We show the economic benefit of market selling for women tends to involve lower value crops of leafy greens, nuts, fruits and root vegetables, while men are more dominant in the lucrative cash crops such as melon.

Highlights

Part I: Food Security and Domestic Agriculture in Solomon IslandsThe Melanesian state of Solomon Islands experienced significant disruptions to its food security during the tensions (1998–2003), affecting livelihoods and wellbeing
Greens, nuts, fruits and root vegetables, while men are more dominant in more lucrative cash crops such as melon
With over half of the people in rural Solomon Islands not having regular paid employment, the sale of produce at Honiara Central Market (HCM) is clearly important for communities that are linked to HCM

Summary

Part I: Food Security and Domestic Agriculture in Solomon Islands

The Melanesian state of Solomon Islands experienced significant disruptions to its food security during the tensions (1998–2003), affecting livelihoods and wellbeing. Not all areas of Solomon Islands are as fecund as the plains east of Honiara, which Fraenkel, Allen and Brock (2010: 65) note is ‘the largest contiguous area of arable land in the Pacific Islands’; growers on other islands (Russel, Savo) contribute to USD$18.8 million in copra (2.7 percent of exports), USD$17.8 million in coconut oil (2.6 percent) and USD$10.7 million in cacao beans (1.5 percent). We outline the main findings before examining them through the lens of asset creation to highlight the important role of smallholder agricultural production to the availability of fresh produce and the nutritional diversity of diet in Honiara, the possibilities for income generation and increased reliance from shocks, and enhanced food security for Solomon Islanders

Part II: Presentation of Data

LIMITATIONS

Part III: Interpretation of Data

Part IV: Discussion

Findings

Conclusions