10 May 2015
Australia strengthens Solomon Islands’ biosecurity information management system
Last week, Australian biosecurity specialists delivered computer and database equipment and specialised training in border operations information management to senior management and surveillance officers from Biosecurity Solomon Islands, within the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.
This forms part of the Australian-funded Biosecurity Development Program that aims to strengthen Biosecurity Solomon Islands to carry out pest and disease prevention, surveillance and control; and improve market access and trade facilitation. The program is delivered through the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
Maximin Kolubalona, Chief Biosecurity Officer from Biosecurity Solomon Islands, commented “The new system captures information that was missing in the past, including information on non-compliance, and improves the effectiveness of our work. Senior management are now able to obtain all of the information collected in the field – at the port, the airport and the post office - before this was not happening”.
Another participant, Sabina Pelomo from the Market Access Unit in Biosecurity Solomon Islands noted “Now data collection and analysis is easier - we enter the information into the iPad and it shows up on the computer. Before we could lose data, and it was often inaccurate”.
This year Australia is providing AUD530,000 (SBD 3.15 million) to support the Biosecurity Development Program.