The Information and Communications Technologies for Development (ICT4D) for Solomon Islands Farmers project, implemented by Kastom Gaden Association (KGA) under the Pacific Islands Rural and Agriculture Stimulus Facility (PIRAS) with funding from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Australian Government, is helping bridge the digital divide for smallholder farmers across all nine provinces of the Solomon Islands.
The project aims to reach and empower the 7,000 farmer members of KGA’s Planting Material Network, including women, youth, and farmer groups, by developing an innovative digital platform that strengthens two-way communication between KGA and its members in remote rural areas.
Through the platform, KGA can now send and receive messages via SMS, conduct interactive radio programs, and even receive “missed call” responses from farmers who lack phone credit—ensuring that no one is left behind. The system also includes a WhatsApp bot for real-time information exchange, market linkage updates, and farmer feedback.
TerraCircle is supporting improvements to KGA’s cloud-based information database on its farmer members and its integration with the new communication platform, as well as helping develop a new website and improved information products to strengthen KGA’s visibility, knowledge-sharing, and service delivery.
The project is delivered through a consortium including One Point Five Degrees, SBC4D, and TerraCircle, bringing together expertise in digital innovation, organizational capacity building, and participatory rural development to enhance food security, market access, and climate-resilient livelihoods across the Solomon Islands.
