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Honiara, Solomon Islands
Wagina Farm Site
The Wagina farms were first established in December 2004 when seed material was transferred there from Rarumana. The people of Wagina originated from Kiribati and were settled on the Island of Vaghena in the early 1960’s. The population of Wagina is now in excess of 2000 and distributed through 4 main village areas – Kukutin, Arariki, Te Ngenge and Nikumaroro. The latter is sited some distance from the first three which are adjacent to each other. Almost without exception, the people of Wagina are dependent on the sea for their food and any income.
The live seaweed stocks were introduced and distributed to interested farmers in early 2004. Registered farmers reached a record of 232 when the price of seaweed was $2.00 per kilogram. In June 2004 dried seaweed production from Wagina reached more than 9 metric tonnes and became the number 1 site, taking over from Rarumana. In 2005, the Rarumana site was seriously affected by disease, which destroyed about 90% of the farms, leaving Wagina as the only major site and supplier in operation.
When the European Union approved and provided funding for a Seaweed Project in
July 2005, there was ample stocks of seaweed planting material available in
Wagina to enable other sites such as North Malaita, Ontong Java and Reef Islands
to be established.
Since its introduction, Wagina farmers have maintained dry
seaweed production for export albeit at fluctuating levels. Currently there is a
significant resurgence in the farming effort, due to the banning of beche-de-mer
harvesting and more importantly an upward movement in the farm gate price.
A record of more than $500,000.00 was generated by Wagina farmers from
cultivating seaweed in 2005.