Cocoa farmer Matthew still hopeful: Makira earthquake One Year On

December 09th, 2017 Honiara - “I felt the house shaking and because I was half asleep, I opened my eyes without moving and then I realized that it was an earthquake. I was blanked out and the only thing I thought of was my family, tsunami, my cocoa farm and to run to higher ground. I quickly got up, heard people screaming, children crying and my wife calling our children to run outside. I got hold of my youngest daughter and ran towards the door, trying to grab hold onto the doorknob but it tossed us onto the floor right next to it. I felt the house swaying and heard the scary rumble sound of the earthquake filled the air. The door open and bang shut. It was still dark outside and the air was still freezing cold. We can still feel the earth moving but my family and I were already on the bush track leading up to the hilltop behind our home. We can still feel the earth beneath our feet moving, trees swaying. The only thing I took from our house was a matchbox and a blanket. We stayed up on the hill under tarpaulin tents for two days until we received a message from Honiara that there is no tsunami threat.”

Mathew Nialenai who is a cocoa farmer from Tawapuna in Makira Province shared his experience during the earthquake.

Like thousands of Solomon Islanders, they experienced the same effects of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Makira Ulawa province on the 9th of December 2016. Reports from the National Emergency Operations Centre during the earthquake states that over 3,000 people in the provinces of Makira, Malaita, Temotu and Guadalcanal have been affected by the earthquake, with many homes destroyed.

This scary earthquake disturbed the life of students, community members lived in fear and also gardens and water supplies were destroyed. It was followed by another two weeks of aftershocks and over 10,000 homes were destroyed along with 20 schools and four clinics.

An assessment was conducted and Hygiene kits funded by the New Zealand Government were initially dispatched by World Vision Solomon Islands after the earthquake to the affected communities in Makira to help them rebuild their homes.

A year on from that tragic earthquake, some affected communities in Makira province are still struggling to rebuild their homes but continue to live their normal lives, going about their daily routines and also learning to be resilient before, during and after a disaster. For some, this month reminds them of the dreadful day when the quake struck Makira Ulawa Province in 2016.

However, for Mathew, the cocoa farmer and his family, this day in December reminded them of when they returned to find their home partly damaged and tilted to one side after the earthquake. Mathew and his family moved into a temporary home, still living in fear but felt blessed and thankful to be alive. Despite the effects of the earthquake, Mathew has not given up on producing cocoa beans as that's his only means of getting income to support his family.

With World Vision's help in terms of farmer’s capacity building under its Community Economy Development project (CED) which was supported by the Government of Australia, Mathew has improved in his farming techniques and increase in quality production and appreciate that it helps him and his family in the long run. 

"The relief toolkit turned out to be a useful supplement to the knowledge I gain from training sessions on cocoa farming provided by World Vision Solomon Island under the CED project," he told World Vision Communications during a visit to his cocoa farm.

His strong determination helps him to remain positive on the road to recovery one year on after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake. "I have a very strong and positive mindset that we are going to be fine so I continue pruning and managing my cocoa farm and increase my production in order to earn income for my family as well as to save up for our new home."

With that strong determination, the Makira cocoa farmer looks forward to expanding and increase his production to achieve excellence in cocoa farming.

"I have to continue to enhance my knowledge and skills, expand and increase my production and become an excellent cocoa farmer, excellent local market facilitator and most of all an excellent father to my children and a loving husband to my beloved wife. All these gave me hope and I think I have what it takes to help my family survive despite the struggles."