Building Resilient Communities Through Climate-Smart Agriculture in Western Province
Last month Kastom Gaden Association (KGA) staff trainer Esther Lodu facilitated Climate-Smart Agriculture training for communities in Simbo and Gizo, Western province from 7th- 15th July 2026, under the Joint Programme on Accelerating Rural Women's Economic Empowerment (JP RWEE).
The training provided participants with practical knowledge and hands-on skills to improve sustainable farming practices and household food security.
Key topics included:
- compost techniques
- seed saving practices
-nursery establishment and management
-mulching for improved soil health
-sharing planting materials within communities.
Participants also received quality seeds and agricultural tools to support the establishment and improvement of their home gardens.
KGA extends its sincere appreciation to the communities of Gizo and Simbo, community leaders, and all participants for their warm welcome, active participation, and commitment throughout the training.
Together we are working towards stronger, healthier, and more resilient rural communities across the Solomon Islands.
All photographs were taken during the training at the two site#kastomgadenassociationa#kga #IFAD##JPRWEEP#WesternProvincev#ClimateSmartAgriculturel#womenempowermentr#foodsecurityu#SustainableAgriculturelture
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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
Celebrating women farmers in Sri Lanka as part of the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer...
Kastom Gaden Association was pleased to be a part of a Seafood Safety Training
Kastom Gaden Association (KGA) is grateful to have been invited to participate in the Seafood Safety Training organized by WorldFish and facilitated by SINU Maritime College, held from 27th to 31st July 2026.
Over the week, participants gained valuable knowledge and practical skills in seafood safety, covering the journey from acquiring raw seafood (fish) through to safe processing, handling, storage, and other essential practices that help ensure seafood is safe for consumption.
The training provided an excellent opportunity to strengthen our understanding of food safety standards while sharing experiences with participants from different organizations with visitation to facilities like Prime Fresh Fish. The knowledge gained will contribute to KGA's ongoing work in promoting sustainable livelihoods, food security, and safe food practices within our communities.
We sincerely thank WorldFish and SINU Maritime College for organizing and delivering this important training. We look forward to applying what we have learned and sharing this knowledge with the communities we serve.
Photos are from the week-long traini#kastomgadenassociationa#kga #SeafoodSafetya#foodsafetya#WorldFishd#sinumaritimecollegel#SustainableLivelihoodsh#foodsecurityu#primefreshfishhFish
Kastom Gaden Association (KGA) is grateful to have been invited to participate in the Seafood Safety Training organized by WorldFish and facilitated by SINU Maritime College, held from 27th to 31st July 2026.
Over the week, participants gained valuable knowledge and practical skills in seafood safety, covering the journey from acquiring raw seafood (fish) through to safe processing, handling, storage, and other essential practices that help ensure seafood is safe for consumption.
The training provided an excellent opportunity to strengthen our understanding of food safety standards while sharing experiences with participants from different organizations with visitation to facilities like Prime Fresh Fish. The knowledge gained will contribute to KGA's ongoing work in promoting sustainable livelihoods, food security, and safe food practices within our communities.
We sincerely thank WorldFish and SINU Maritime College for organizing and delivering this important training. We look forward to applying what we have learned and sharing this knowledge with the communities we serve.
Photos are from the week-long traini#kastomgadenassociationa#kga #SeafoodSafetya#foodsafetya#WorldFishd#sinumaritimecollegel#SustainableLivelihoodsh#foodsecurityu#primefreshfishhFish
Guadalcanal 42 second appointed day. From 31st July to 3rd Aug 26. Fruit trees on sale $25 each, to become a Kastom Gaden Association Planting Material Network (PMN) member membership fee is $15 for individuals valid for 1 year, $20 for group and individuals get 3 pkts of seeds while a group gets 5. Seeds on sale $10 each pkt. Come and learn more about what we do and more about our projects like the Joint Program for Rural Women Economic Empowerment (JPRWEE) You are all welcome at the FOPA village. Happy 42nd appointed day Guadalcanal Province. #kga #IFAD #JPRWEE #gprovince42appointedday
🌱 Back to Our Roots with Kastom Gaden
Our gardens are more than just a source of food, they are part of our culture, identity, and way of life. From traditional crops like slippery cabbage, hedge cabbage, and swamp taro, to important trees like breadfruit and ngali nut, our kastom farming systems continue to sustain our communities.
By practicing intercropping, nurturing seedlings, and using natural compost, farmers are working with nature to build healthy, resilient gardens. These traditional methods not only protect our soil but also strengthen food security for our families.
At KGA, we encourage farmers to continue using and sharing this valuable knowledge because our strength is in what we already know. 🌿
#kastomgadenassociation #TraditionalKnowledge #foodsecurity #agroforestry #solomonislands
Our gardens are more than just a source of food, they are part of our culture, identity, and way of life. From traditional crops like slippery cabbage, hedge cabbage, and swamp taro, to important trees like breadfruit and ngali nut, our kastom farming systems continue to sustain our communities.
By practicing intercropping, nurturing seedlings, and using natural compost, farmers are working with nature to build healthy, resilient gardens. These traditional methods not only protect our soil but also strengthen food security for our families.
At KGA, we encourage farmers to continue using and sharing this valuable knowledge because our strength is in what we already know. 🌿
#kastomgadenassociation #TraditionalKnowledge #foodsecurity #agroforestry #solomonislands
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🫒Field Visit Highlight
Kastom Gaden Association (KGA) was pleased to host the West Are'are Rokotanikeni Association (WARA) young girls group for a demo site field visit last Friday (03/07/26)
This visit was part of WARA's program focused on young girls in high school leadership and good governance, bringing together selected youth delegates from secondary schools in West Are’are. As part of their week-long program, participants visited the KGA demo site for a look-and-learn experience.
KGA was delighted to guide the group through the demo site, providing practical demonstrations and discussions on sustainable farming methods, soil health and composting techniques, crop selection and seasonal planning, as well as integrated farm design and day-to-day operations. Participants were also introduced to basic agribusiness concepts, teamwork in farm management, and how agricultural knowledge can support leadership, decision-making, and community development. These hands-on insights aimed to show how agriculture can play a meaningful role in building confidence, responsibility, and leadership skills among young women in schools and communities.
The participants showed great enthusiasm and eagerness to learn new things and we are encouraged by their commitment to share their knowledge with their peers when they return to their schools.
#KGA #WARA #YouthLeadership #GoodGovernance #KnowledgeSharing
Kastom Gaden Association (KGA) was pleased to host the West Are'are Rokotanikeni Association (WARA) young girls group for a demo site field visit last Friday (03/07/26)
This visit was part of WARA's program focused on young girls in high school leadership and good governance, bringing together selected youth delegates from secondary schools in West Are’are. As part of their week-long program, participants visited the KGA demo site for a look-and-learn experience.
KGA was delighted to guide the group through the demo site, providing practical demonstrations and discussions on sustainable farming methods, soil health and composting techniques, crop selection and seasonal planning, as well as integrated farm design and day-to-day operations. Participants were also introduced to basic agribusiness concepts, teamwork in farm management, and how agricultural knowledge can support leadership, decision-making, and community development. These hands-on insights aimed to show how agriculture can play a meaningful role in building confidence, responsibility, and leadership skills among young women in schools and communities.
The participants showed great enthusiasm and eagerness to learn new things and we are encouraged by their commitment to share their knowledge with their peers when they return to their schools.
#KGA #WARA #YouthLeadership #GoodGovernance #KnowledgeSharing
🌱 Empowering Communities Through Urban Gardening
Kastom Gaden Association (KGA) is proud to support the project “Enhancing Urban Resilience to Climate Change Impacts and Natural Disasters in Honiara”, funded by UN-Habitat (SIDA) and implemented in partnership with RMIT University.
This initiative aims to improve household food security, nutrition, and community resilience through innovative urban gardening practices.
In June, KGA successfully delivered Vertical Garden Training and established pilot garden projects in Jericho Community ( 17 - 18 June, 2026) and Fishery Village (25 - 26 June, 2026)
Through hands-on, practical training, community members-especially women and youth learned climate-smart gardening techniques using affordable, locally available materials. Together, we built vertical gardens, raised beds, compost systems, and seedling nurseries right in their communities.
🌿 What we achieved:
✔ Increased knowledge in urban gardening and food production
✔️ Established demonstration gardens in both communities
✔️ Strengthened skills in composting, seedling production, and crop management
✔️ Encouraged strong community participation and ownership
✔Delivery of basic tools and materials to support ongoing garden maintenance
Despite challenges like dry weather and limited resources, the enthusiasm and commitment from participants were inspiring. Many households are now eager to start their own home gardens!
This project is helping pave the way toward stronger, more resilient urban communities in Honiara.
🙏 Thank you to our partners and communities for making this possible, we look forward to growing more together!
📸 Photos were taken at Jericho Community and Fishery Village during the activities.
#KGA #UrbanGardening #FoodSecurity #ClimateResilience #Honiara #GrowLocal
Kastom Gaden Association (KGA) is proud to support the project “Enhancing Urban Resilience to Climate Change Impacts and Natural Disasters in Honiara”, funded by UN-Habitat (SIDA) and implemented in partnership with RMIT University.
This initiative aims to improve household food security, nutrition, and community resilience through innovative urban gardening practices.
In June, KGA successfully delivered Vertical Garden Training and established pilot garden projects in Jericho Community ( 17 - 18 June, 2026) and Fishery Village (25 - 26 June, 2026)
Through hands-on, practical training, community members-especially women and youth learned climate-smart gardening techniques using affordable, locally available materials. Together, we built vertical gardens, raised beds, compost systems, and seedling nurseries right in their communities.
🌿 What we achieved:
✔ Increased knowledge in urban gardening and food production
✔️ Established demonstration gardens in both communities
✔️ Strengthened skills in composting, seedling production, and crop management
✔️ Encouraged strong community participation and ownership
✔Delivery of basic tools and materials to support ongoing garden maintenance
Despite challenges like dry weather and limited resources, the enthusiasm and commitment from participants were inspiring. Many households are now eager to start their own home gardens!
This project is helping pave the way toward stronger, more resilient urban communities in Honiara.
🙏 Thank you to our partners and communities for making this possible, we look forward to growing more together!
📸 Photos were taken at Jericho Community and Fishery Village during the activities.
#KGA #UrbanGardening #FoodSecurity #ClimateResilience #Honiara #GrowLocal
Kastom Gaden Association partners with…
