Solomon Islanders Swap Seeds and Cuttings Through a Village-Run Network

Kastom Gaden Association (KGA) hosts the Solomon Islands Planting Materials Network (PMN), set up in 1995, which lets farmers exchange seeds, planting materials and know-how. Many staples such as sweet potato, taro, yam, cassava and slippery cabbage are propagated from cuttings and roots rather than seed, so the network keeps both kinds of planting material circulating. The PMN seed bank lists open-pollinated varieties including ground-cover long beans, red corn, velvet bean, Vudutaru tomatoes and cowpea, with members limited to one packet per variety. KGA says almost 2,000 farmers now belong, and it was still running trade-fair stalls and a Pacific School Food Talanoa in 2026.