ICT4D Kastom Gaden Association recently went down to Choiseul rural farmers with the means to connect rural farmers and the accessibility of how farmers can stay connected and get help with their farming.
On this short trip 829 farmers stepped forward and got registered under Kastom Gaden farmers network and also received their packets of seeds.
In pictures is a highlight of the trip to choiseul province
#pacificfarmersorganisation #IFAD #kastomgadenassociation
Discover Our Work for
Solomon Island Communities
About KGA
About KGA
Kastom Gaden Association (KGA) is an indigenous non-profit organisation (a charitable trust) working with Solomon Island communities to improve their food security.
‘Kastom Gaden’ is a Solomons Pijin language term meaning ‘customary gardening’
‘Kastom Gaden’ is a Solomons Pijin language term meaning ‘customary gardening’
About PMN
About PMN
The Planting Materials Network (PMN) provides Solomon Island farmers the opportunity to exchange seeds and planting materials, agricultural knowledge and techniques, and to participate in training activities run by staff and other farmers.
Membership of PMN is available.
Membership of PMN is available.
What we do
What we do
Kastom Gaden Association provides services to strengthen village-based food production and food security in Solomon Islands. We use practical, participatory approaches that enable villagers to develop their own solutions to improving household food security and their village-based agriculture economy.
Our projects
Our projects
Over the more than two and a half decades since its inception, KGA has implemented and been involved in a diversity of projects addressing the food security and the agricultural productivity of Solomon Island villages. View:
• KGA reports • publications • handbooks • training manuals and • general projects.
• KGA reports • publications • handbooks • training manuals and • general projects.
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Kastom Gaden Association
Kastom Gaden Association is an indigenous registered non profit organisation (charitable trust) in the Solomon Islands
Women-Led, Time-Saving Technologies
🔥 Reducing workload while strengthening climate resilience.
Across four communities in Malaita, women farmers have been trained to build and use Kiko stoves — an energy-efficient cooking technology that reduces firewood use, cooking time, and smoke exposure. These trainings reached over 120 farmers, with strong participation and leadership from women. The stoves are made from a mix of clay and other locally available materials. The women are drying their stoves (2 weeks) and excited to try them.
The Kiko stove is a practical example of how climate-resilient farming projects can also reduce daily workloads and support women’s leadership at household and community level.
#WomenInAgriculture #TimeSavingTechnology #ClimateResilience
#KastomGadenAssociation #PacificFarmersOrganisation #PFO
#FundedByDFAT #AustralianAid
🔥 Reducing workload while strengthening climate resilience.
Across four communities in Malaita, women farmers have been trained to build and use Kiko stoves — an energy-efficient cooking technology that reduces firewood use, cooking time, and smoke exposure. These trainings reached over 120 farmers, with strong participation and leadership from women. The stoves are made from a mix of clay and other locally available materials. The women are drying their stoves (2 weeks) and excited to try them.
The Kiko stove is a practical example of how climate-resilient farming projects can also reduce daily workloads and support women’s leadership at household and community level.
#WomenInAgriculture #TimeSavingTechnology #ClimateResilience
#KastomGadenAssociation #PacificFarmersOrganisation #PFO
#FundedByDFAT #AustralianAid
Lionel Maeliu at Gwaunafiu Farmer School showed us this amazing cover crop system he has developed using “Ladoa bean’ - a vigorous cover crop similar to Mucuna but much more vigorous in its growth. It surpresses most other weeds and completely takes over the site. It produced deep mats of organic matter. Lionel and Leslie slash it back and plant taro and other crops. it shoots from the roots which they prune for mulch. After the crop the cover crop restores on its own. The system has allowed highly productive taro systems on land normally considered too infertile for taro. The legume is multiplied using vine cuttings and it has never set seed. We believe it is Calopogonium Caeruleum . See this link for more info. The material will soon be available for PMN members. pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Calopogonium+caeruleum
✍️RECAP ICT4D LEARNING EVENT
Working Groups Identify Real Actions for Better Farmer Communication
Participants broke into four working groups—content, channels, capacity, and partnerships—to identify practical, realistic actions moving forward.
Key recommendations included:
・Shorter, seasonal messages
・Use PMN farmer networks as trusted channels
・Train extension officers in simple mobile audio/video tools
・Strengthen partnerships with media and mobile networks
These ideas will help shape the next phase of farmer communication support.
#kga #ICT4D #DFAT #IFAD #solomonislandsagriculture #farmerextension #pacificfarmers #communitybasedlearning
Working Groups Identify Real Actions for Better Farmer Communication
Participants broke into four working groups—content, channels, capacity, and partnerships—to identify practical, realistic actions moving forward.
Key recommendations included:
・Shorter, seasonal messages
・Use PMN farmer networks as trusted channels
・Train extension officers in simple mobile audio/video tools
・Strengthen partnerships with media and mobile networks
These ideas will help shape the next phase of farmer communication support.
#kga #ICT4D #DFAT #IFAD #solomonislandsagriculture #farmerextension #pacificfarmers #communitybasedlearning
🌱 Field visit to Gwunafiu Farmer School, Malaita
Today we visited Lionel Maeliu at the Gwanafew Farmer School, part of the Climate Resilient Farming (CRF) Project led by Kastom Gaden Association. Lionel has been training local farmers in practical, climate-resilient methods—demonstrating how agroecology, soil care, and diverse cropping systems can strengthen food security in Malata and beyond.
Great to see the real impacts of this work directly in the field and hear from farmers benefiting from his leadership. 👏🌿
#ClimateResilientFarming #kga
#agroecology #solomonislands #FarmersLead #foodsecurity #SustainableFarming #CRFproject #malaita #pacificfarmers #ResilienceInAction #DFAT #PIFON #gwaunafiuorganicfarmersschool
Today we visited Lionel Maeliu at the Gwanafew Farmer School, part of the Climate Resilient Farming (CRF) Project led by Kastom Gaden Association. Lionel has been training local farmers in practical, climate-resilient methods—demonstrating how agroecology, soil care, and diverse cropping systems can strengthen food security in Malata and beyond.
Great to see the real impacts of this work directly in the field and hear from farmers benefiting from his leadership. 👏🌿
#ClimateResilientFarming #kga
#agroecology #solomonislands #FarmersLead #foodsecurity #SustainableFarming #CRFproject #malaita #pacificfarmers #ResilienceInAction #DFAT #PIFON #gwaunafiuorganicfarmersschool
RECAP ICT4D LEARNING EVENT
What We Learned About Reaching Farmers Through Radio
A key highlight from the ICT4D Learning Event was the KGA presentation on radio outreach.
Insights shared included:
Short, well-scripted radio spots drive higher engagement
Repetition helps farmers remember and act
Radio remains one of the most trusted rural communication channels
Thank you to the KGA team for sharing practical lessons.
#kga #ICT4D #solomonislandsfarmers #RadioOutreach #DFAT #IFAD #farmercommunication #PacificAgriculture
What We Learned About Reaching Farmers Through Radio
A key highlight from the ICT4D Learning Event was the KGA presentation on radio outreach.
Insights shared included:
Short, well-scripted radio spots drive higher engagement
Repetition helps farmers remember and act
Radio remains one of the most trusted rural communication channels
Thank you to the KGA team for sharing practical lessons.
#kga #ICT4D #solomonislandsfarmers #RadioOutreach #DFAT #IFAD #farmercommunication #PacificAgriculture
This week KGA brought together farmers, CSOs, ICT partners, and Government representatives to explore what really works when communicating with rural farmers in Solomon Islands.
From SMS trials to radio call-in shows, participants shared honest reflections on successes and gaps.
simple, farmer-centered communication still works best.
#kastomgadenassociation #customgarden #solomonislands #ICT4D #DFAT #IFAD #agriculture #FarmerVoices #CommunityLearning
From SMS trials to radio call-in shows, participants shared honest reflections on successes and gaps.
simple, farmer-centered communication still works best.
#kastomgadenassociation #customgarden #solomonislands #ICT4D #DFAT #IFAD #agriculture #FarmerVoices #CommunityLearning
Kastom Gaden Association partners with…
