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Highlights

Better systems for exchanging Pacific tree plant material

Pacific Island countries and territories may soon be able to reap the benefits of having better access to improved varieties of the region’s tree species. These improved varieties, and wild tree varieties, are becoming increasingly important in efforts to adapt to climate change, especially for food security and protection of coastal areas and watersheds.  However, the exchange of plant material between countries is hampered by the difficulty of ensuring efficient and safe movement of the material, mainly seeds.

Regional government officials from forestry, agriculture and quarantine departments in Fiji Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu will meet next week in Nadi to identify and assess risks and constraints in the movement of plant material of wild and improved tree varieties between countries.

During the meeting, government officers will also learn more about identifying potential pathways for pests in moving plant material across national borders. A better working relationship between biosecurity and forestry services can help address this issue.

A significant development in improving access to tree germplasm is the establishment of a regional forest tree seed centre at the Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePaCT), which is based at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in Suva. The aim of this regional tree seed centre is to assist PICTs in collecting and sharing germplasm of woody species, including important timber, fruit/nut tree and shrub species, as well as species of particular importance for their resistance to cyclones and suitability for coastal protection. Resilient species that can be planted on atolls are also a priority.

During the meeting, participants will contribute to developing a regional approach to ensure that realistic and practical procedures and systems are standardised and adopted by all countries to facilitate the efficient and safe exchange of tree germplasm. In turn, this approach may initiate changes in relevant national regulations and legislation.

The meeting, which will be held from 15 to 19 March 2010 at Novotel Hotel, Nadi, Fiji, is being organised by SPC’s Land Resources Division in partnership with the Australian Tree Seed Centre and the Plant Industry Division of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (Australia).

For more information, please contact Mr Sairusi Bulai, team leader, LRD Forest and Trees Team, Secretariat of the Pacific Community: SairusiB@spc.int or lrdhelpdesk@spc.int

Natural enemies to fight invasive plant species

A regional workshop on biocontrol heard that in the Pacific 300–500 plant species could be regarded as invaders, with about 150 species classified as aggressive. Mikania micrantha, often called mile-a-minute weed because it can grow as fast as one meter per month, is one of these aggressive weed species. It is found in 14 Pacific Island countries and territories. Farmers spend a lot of time clearing this weed from their land, along with many other introduced invasive alien plants. Such alien plants can also suppress forest regeneration or change the ecology of areas.

The Pacific Biocontrol Strategy Development Workshop is currently being held in Auckland, New Zealand. Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) technical staff from the Land Resources Division, led by Plant Health Coordinator Warea Orapa, is collaborating with LandCare New Zealand and the United States Forest Service in Hawai’i to hold the event. Plant health and quarantine specialists from Fiji Islands, Cook Islands, Palau, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, American Samoa, Samoa, Niue, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea (PNG), and Tonga, as well as scientists from New Zealand, Australia, the Hawai’i (United States), and the United Kingdom are attending the workshop, which is being held at the Waipuna Hotel, Auckland on 16–18 November 2009. The workshop aims to develop a regional strategy for implementing biological control work in the Pacific.

‘Biocontrol, or biological control, is the use of highly evolved and host-specific natural enemies in weed or pest management. It is very friendly to the environment, helps preserve the natural biodiversity of island ecosystems and is in the long run the most less costly and sustainable method of pest control,’ says Orapa.

‘The Pacific region was the first in the world to use biological control for weed and insect pest management. Due to the general lack of capacity, biological control as a pest management tool is restricted to only a few Pacific island countries and territories and is a service most useful if resources are pooled together.

‘SPC is coordinating with the Pacific island countries and territories  to build capacity in biocontrol as a pest management tool. Some of the weeds and insect pests affecting the Pacific islands are very invasive and widespread and threaten Pacific island livelihoods. Use of chemicals to control pest and weed problem is not feasible, so we go look for natural enemies to fight the weed or pest. In most cases there is a natural enemy somewhere that can control the weed or pest. We then start the technical process of importing the biocontrol agent for rearing and releasing in countries with the problems.’

Orapa said SPC, through international cooperation, has identified three natural enemies to control mile-a-minute. Two butterfly species (Actinote anteas and Actinote thalia pyrrha) and a rust-causing fungus that attacks mikania leaves (Puccinia spegazzinii ) are being reared  as the weapon against the weed in Fiji Islands and PNG. The two butterflies were introduced from Indonesia, where they are already being used to control mikania. They have been host-tested to ensure they do not harm other useful plants when released in the wild. This is a very important step in the introduction of biological control agents.

The mikania biocontrol work is a collaborative research funded jointly by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and SPC. The project is helping train national staff in the skills related to weed biocontrol work. Biocontrol is expected to keep populations of weeds and pests at low densities in Fiji Islands and PNG. Results from this project have the potential to benefit many other Pacific Island countries and territories.

The Biological Control of Chromolaena Project in PNG, a related project funded by ACIAR and implemented by the PNG National Agricultural Research Institute and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is now completed.  ‘Chromolaena is classified as a Class One weed for Queensland as it has the potential to spread and cause huge problems in Australia,’ said Michael Day, a Biological Control Scientist who works with the Queensland DPI and was attending the Pacific Biocontrol Strategy Development Workshop in Auckland.

Mr Day reported that three biocontrol agents, including a very useful gall-forming fly, were introduced into PNG from Guam, the Philippines and South Africa between 1998 and 2004 to stop the alien weed from spreading and causing socio-economic and environmental damage. These insects are helping to control weeds in many areas in PNG.

In Cook Islands a ladybird beetle is helping control the coconut scale insect Aspidiotus destructor. Originally introduced from Australia in 1991, the ladybird beetle is now the weapon of choice to fight scale insects in the remote Northern Group, where the latter have become a food security threat. ‘A recent heavy infestation of the coconut scale insect on Pukapuka island in the northern Cook Islands became a real threat to food security as coconuts form the main staple food item,’ reported Dr Maja Poeschko, an Entomologist with the Cook Islands Ministry of Agriculture. She was able to overcome logistics problems and ship the ladybird biocontrol agent to Pukapuka, where communities are now using them to reduce populations of the pestilous scale insect.

Forests in Fiji Islands, Samoa, French Polynesia and eastern PNG are quickly being smothered by introduced African tulip trees, which are competing with indigenous forest trees and plants. African tulip has no economic value and is dangerous in urban areas where the trees can break and knock down power lines or buildings or harm people. Following recommendations from Pacific Island governments, SPC is looking at finding biological solutions to addressing this invasive species through international collaboration with scientists in Africa and elsewhere, according to Orapa. 

The workshop is expected to finish on Wednesday with a regional strategy and plans for the immediate future as well as the medium- and long-term on how the region can utilise this valuable technology in agriculture, forestry and environmental management.

For more information, please contact Warea Orapa at WareaO@spc.int, or lrdhelpdesk@spc.int.

FACT organises ICT/food safety awareness training in Solomon Islands

9th November 2009,Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji Islands - Food safety is everyone’s business, and it is a must that all those involved with food processing either for home consumption or for business observe good food safety practices.
With this in mind, the European Union-funded Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade (FACT) project organised a three-day food safety awareness programme for 43 female and 2 male participants in Honiara from 27 to 29 October 2009.

The FACT project is implemented by the Land Resource Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) with the goal of increasing agricultural and forestry trade within the region and exports from it by ensuring a consistent and quality supply.

Mr Manasa Katonivualiku and Mr Vinesh Prasad of FACT conducted the training, which was jointly sponsored by EU FACT/SPC and AusAID’s Agricultural Livelihoods Project (ALP). 
One of the important issues involving food safety is proper documentation and keeping abreast of developments around the world on food safety issues; therefore the use of information and communication technology (ICT) was also introduced to participants.

The ICT component enabled participants to better understand the need for food safety and the import requirements of countries to which they plan to export their value-added processed food products.
Mr Grant Vinning of ALP welcomed the support of FACT and called for more collaboration in the future.
‘I appreciate the work that Manasa and Vinesh did with the food safety training in Solomons as I was amazed with the responses from the participants during feedback session.’

‘Since then I have had a chance to talk to some of the participants and all greatly enjoyed the course and said they found it very beneficial,’ Mr Vinning said.

According to one participant Ms Mary Olofia, the training was very helpful as there are many issues to consider when one is in the food processing business.
‘Often we used to ignore minor issues but after this course I have realised the importance of observing all the dos and don’ts in food processing.

‘We participants were also introduced to ICT and the benefit it has if we are willing to learn and use it.’
Ms Olofia believes that awareness on ICT/food safety has increased the level of confidence of the participants and they can now strive to improve their practices during the course of conducting their business.

‘I would also like to add that such training is not only beneficial to commercial food processing but also it can play a very important role in improving the health of the community at large.
‘Now I am certain that all participants will pay due attention even if they prepare food at home and as a result food poisoning can be minimised.

Ms Olofia added that ‘issues like hygiene and proper processing had often been neglected, but that now she realises how important they are.’ The FACT project complements efforts aimed at enhancing regional cooperation and integration. This includes the policy commitment of the European Union under the Cotonou Agreement to facilitate the integration of Pacific ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States) into regional and global economies.

FACT aims to assist export oriented, market-driven enterprises that will consistently supply overseas markets with competitive agricultural and forestry products.
 

European Union-funded Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade (FACT) project has engaged with a cocoa exporting company from Honiara, Solomon Islands, to support communities and provide an alternative source of livelihood.

Direct Management Limited (DML) is one of the 14 enterprises the FACT project is supporting. By engaging with this company, the project aims to improve the entire cocoa supply chain in order to benefit the industry as a whole.

The FACT project is managed within the Land Resource Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community with the goal of increasing agricultural and forestry trade within the region and exports from it by ensuring a consistent and quality supply.

Margaret Ilala, DML’s Director, believes FACT’s assistance has been very timely as it has accelerated the company’s plans to move a notch up in cocoa supply and marketing.

‘We are grateful to the FACT project for assisting us in fast tracking the work of DML.’
FACT will assist DML in constructing a shed for cocoa bean storage and will provide technical assistance to DML farmers to improve supply and quality.

FACT production technician Sanfred Smith will be working with farmers that who will be supplying cocoa to DML in improving the field sanitation in order to improve their production.
One of the major tasks currently being undertaken by the FACT team is pruning and maintenance of the existing cocoa plantation to bring back it into production and prevent black pod disease.
Farmers have undergone training on coca field management under a programme known as integrated pest and disease management (IPDM).

David Kebu, one of the farmers, was emotional and believed that such training is a blessing for cocoa farmers of Solomon Islands. ‘I wish that this training had been conducted some 20 years ago when I had more strength in me so that I could have reaped more benefits.’ Previously, David used to harvest only 6–8 good pods per plant as the others were affected with black pod disease, but the scenario is different today.
His cocoa plants are loaded with beautiful cocoa pods and he harvests 35 to 40 good pods per plant.
This translates to more income for David and, as he is a supplier for DML, the supply of dry beans is expected to increase.

Meanwhile, Dr John Konam, former Plant Pathologist with SPC who is now working with the Cocoa Livelihood Improvement Project (CLIP), believes FACT’s engagement with DML has impacted the whole cocoa industry.
‘FACT started IPDM in Honiara and this has really brought about a total paradigm shift in the communities as far as cocoa farming is concerned. ‘Now under CLIP we are taking forward the idea of IPDM to all farmers with the aim of increasing production of quality beans.’

The FACT project aims to promote cocoa as an alternative source of income for farmers as moves are in place to stop the export of round logs by 2012.

The FACT project aims to sustainably increase the quality and range of exports of Pacific agriculture and forestry products, and to contribute to the integration of the 14 Pacific members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) into the regional and global economy.

For further information please contact Vinesh Prasad on telephone (679)3370733 or (679) 9938746, email Vineshp@spc.int or LRD Help Desk on email lrdhelpdesk@spc.int.

Background:

SPC’s 26 member countries and territories include American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji Islands, France, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States of America, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna.
 

Monday 29^th September 2009

The Director of United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) Ms Jan McAlpine applauded the Secretariat of the Pacific Community for organising the Pacific Heads of Forestry (HOFs) meeting in Nadi.

In her video message to the 60 participants at the HOFs meeting, she acknowledged that the theme - Forests, Climate Change and Markets is crucial with inter-related issues for the Pacific countries and territories, as well as for forests for other countries worldwide.

 ‘The relationship between these issues has been high on the UN Forum on Forests’ agenda for many years.

‘Not only are they rooted in the non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests agreed by all countries of the UNFF – the first international agreement with a 360^o perspective on the full spectrum of issues – but they are also featured as key discussion topics of official sessions of the forum,’ Ms McAlpine said.

She said that 50 years ago forests were thought of by most only in the context of their timber production value.

‘We have learned the hard way that forests provide far more than timber as a service; the economic values are very much only a part of the contribution of forests – the social and environmental contributions are enormous.

Now, she added, we are considering the contribution of forests in the context of climate change.

‘Let’s not risk repeating the error of only seeing a single value for forests and ignoring their other functions.

‘Forests are not just timber or climate carbon pools; they are a survival tool for Fiji and other small island developing states,’ Ms McAlpine said.

She further stated that protecting forests means protecting the water supply, guaranteeing food and traditional medicine, providing employment and income, supporting livelihoods, conserving terrestrial biodiversity and lowering the chances of flooding.Despite the growing recognition of the importance of forests within the climate context, funding for forests in small island developing states has been low.However, the UNFF Secretariat has announced that a worldwide initiative will soon be launched on facilitating financing for sustainable forest management (SFM) in small island developing states.

This initiative draws from past UNFF studies on the means for implementing SFM and will provide Pacific Island countries and territories with an opportunity to analyse funding challenges and present options for improving institutional frameworks and increasing forest resilience in the face of climate change.

The four-day meeting of HOFs ended with a number of recommendations being agreed by all representatives of participating countries.

One of the major issues that were agreed upon was endorsing the activities of the SPC Land Resource Division’s Regional Forestry programme which is in line with relevant objective of the Secretariat’s Strategic Plan (2009 – 2012).

The forum also recommended that SPC remain the focal point for the Pacific on UNFF matters to build communication regarding activities on the global and regional levels.

In support for the development of markets for carbon, timber and non-wood forest products in the PICTs, the Heads of Forestry recommended following:

• ‘In recognition of the importance of non-wood forest products and the extraordinary diversity and uniqueness of products existing in the PICTs, support for SPC LRD to help further development, production and marketing of local products for the domestic and international markets.’

•  ‘Promoting of forest and eco-certification and strengthening awareness and information exchange among resource owners on market-related issues in forest development planning.’

• In addition, Promoting understanding among relevant stakeholders on emerging markets in carbon, non-wood forest products, and ecosystem services.

Land Resource Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community in collaboration with European Union and German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) organized the Heads of Forestry Meeting.

For further information please contact Mr. Vinesh Prasad  or LRD Helpdesk

Agroforestry – The future of global land use

The 2nd World Congress of Agroforestry was held at the United Nations Conference facilities in Nairobi, Kenya 23–28 August 2009.

The congress was jointly hosted by the World Agroforestry Centre (formerly known as ICRAF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

It was attended by more than 1200 participants from all over the world. Its overall theme was ‘Agroforestry, the future of global land use’. The sub-themes were ‘Food security and livelihoods’; ‘Conservation and rehabilitation of natural resources’; and ‘Policies and institutions’.

Researchers, educators, scientists, practitioners and policy-makers from around the world freely exchanged ideas, knowledge and experiences on agroforestry and its positive impacts on food security, poverty alleviation and stewardship of the global environment.

Agroforestry has a key role in addressing the challenges of food security while conserving the natural resource base upon which agriculture depends.
The science and practice of agroforestry will offer useful directions in solving the problem of how to feed a growing population while protecting the environment. There is also an enormous opportunity to diversify livelihoods and incomes via the emerging carbon markets.
This includes the renewable energy sector, but also the growing prospect of smallholder farmers earning an income by conserving forests, practicing conservation agriculture and increasing tree cover on their farms – which sequester carbon.
 

Cenon Padolina of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s (SPC’s) Forests and Trees Programme was invited to the congress and made a presentation entitled ‘Promoting agroforestry in the Pacific’, while Prof. Randy Thaman of the University of the South Pacific (USP) and Dr Lex Thomson, Team Leader for SPC’s Faciliating Agricultural Commodity Trade (FACT) project, made a joint presentation titled ‘Agroforestry on the frontline against climate change, biodiversity erosion and global recession: Agroforestry as a basis for sustainability in the Pacific Islands’.

SPC, through its Forest and Trees Programme, is actively promoting the concept and practice of agroforestry throughout the Pacific Islands, primarily through training/workshops to build capacity at national and local community levels. Support is being provided to set up demonstration trials and community nurseries, identify and collect threatened tree species and cultivars, collect information on native tree propagation and diversification, plant trees in crop land areas, develop intercropping and multi-storey tree-gardens, assess nutrient deficiencies, develop propagation techniques and better understand how to plan and implement programmes for the protection and enrichment of existing systems.
 

Strong emphasis is also being placed on promoting awareness on the importance of protecting and disseminating knowledge of traditional agroforestry systems and integrating this knowledge with scientific technology.
 

For further information please contact Vinesh Prasad or LRD Helpdesk. 
 

SPC organises bamboo propagation training

Tuesday, 4th August 2009, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji Islands- Creating awareness on the use of bamboo and exploring the range of species available to the Pacific will be the main focus of a bamboo propagation and utilisation training session organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s Land resource Division (LRD).
 

The training was held at Colo-I-Suva Silviculture Research Station building and nursery on Tuesday 4 August, with 25 participants in attendence.  
Mr Durnford Dart, Chairman of Bamboo Pty Ltd of Queensland Australia will conduct the bamboo propagation training.
 

According to Mr. Dart, it is vital to identify the species of bamboo adapted to Pacific Island environment to get the optimum return from these useful plant species.
“Certain bamboo species grow very well in tropical climates like Fiji and other Pacific Islands hence creating awareness on its utilisation and training on its propagation is the way forward.”
“Through this training, we aim to educate the locals on the care and maintenance of bamboo so that they start to realise the substantial benefits from bamboo,” Mr Dart said.
 

Bamboos include the world’s largest grasses, growing up to 36 meters high with diameters that can exceed 30 cm. Bamboo plants produce an annual crop of new shoots that telescope into poles at up to a meter per day. Once established the clumps may be harvested annually over hundreds of years.
Mr Dart added that different bamboo species produce many products including two main crops: edible shoots and timber poles. Other uses include handicraft, paper and biofuel generation.
“With other woody trees, one has to plant them and often wait 15 years before harvesting, after which you have to replant and wait again for the same period. However with bamboo it takes about 4–5 years for plants to establish themselves and from then on it can be harvested annually for hundreds of years.”
He also added that for the Pacific Islands, the main focus is to identify and establish bamboo as a substitute timber material suitable for the production of bamboo flooring, plywood, charcoal and biofuel with export potential.
 

After visiting Fiji, Mr. Dart will continue on to Samoa to oversee an electrification project where bamboo is being combined with coconut husk and used as fuel wood to run a bio-diesel generator. It is an efficient replacement for fossil fuels in the Pacific, this generator providing electricity for 10 villages. 
 

Mr Dart’s trip to Fiji and Samoa has been funded by the European Union-funded Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade (FACT) project and SPC’s Forest and Agriculture Diversification project.
FACT complements efforts aimed at enhancing regional cooperation and integration. This includes the policy commitment of the European Union under the Cotonou Agreement to facilitate the integration of Pacific ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States) into regional and global economies.
FACT aims to assist export oriented, market-driven enterprises that will consistently supply overseas market with competitive agricultural and forestry products.
 

For further information please contact  Vineshp@spc.int or LRD HelpDesk.

 

FACT supports regional women with food safety and processing course

Wednesday, 26th August 2009, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji Islands -Thirty-one women from 11 Pacific Island countries attended an intensive food processing and food safety course at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s (SPC’s) Community Education Training Centre (CETC) at Narere, Fiji Islands.

The training was conducted by Mrs Apiame Cegumalua and Mr Manasa Katonivualiku of the European Union-funded Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade (FACT) project, which is implemented within SPC’s Land Resources Division.

According to Dr Lia Maka of CETC, the collaboration between the two programmes is very timely.
‘The whole world is going through recession, and here in Pacific our only contingency position is to make use of our natural resources. Developing them by means of adding value is an excellent way forward.’

‘The aim of FACT project is to increase trade from the Pacific region by adding value to agricultural and forestry products to help overcome barriers arising from bio-security regulations and irregular shipping, hence our collaboration with FACT is adding value to our programme,’ Dr Maka said.

CETC has shifted its focus on supporting the graduates by promoting business through food processing, aquaculture and developing forestry products.
Dr Maka believes that through these changes CETC will be able to better support its graduates in their quest to set up their own business.
‘We want to continue links with graduates after completion of their courses so that they turn out to be successful entrepreneurs in their countries.’

Elizabeth Seth of Vanuatu said that this one-week course is really helpful to her as it gave her important information on issues of food safety and processing.
‘Issues like hygiene and proper processing are often neglected but now I realise how important they are.’
‘I hope such courses are made longer to capture detailed aspects of food safety and processing,’ Elizabeth said

The FACT project complements efforts aimed at enhancing regional cooperation and integration. This includes the policy commitment of the European Union under the Cotonou Agreement to facilitate the integration of Pacific ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States) into regional and global economies.

FACT aims to assist export oriented, market-driven enterprises that will consistently supply overseas market with competitive agricultural and forestry products.

For further information please contact Vinesh Prasad or LRD Helpdesk
 

Regional organics task force discuss fair trade

The Regional Organic Task Force (ROTF) met in Nadi last week to hear progress on organic production in the Pacific and to finalise policies for Pacific organic guidelines.

Director of SPC’s Land Resources Division, Mr ‘Aleki Sisifa, said he has been impressed by the ROTF’s progress so far and its leadership in advancing the organics movement in the Pacific. He assured members of SPC’s support for finalising the regional organic standard.

“The momentum is exhilarating. ROTF’s membership is diverse and the passion with which they go about sharing experiences, organising regional meetings and getting impact on the ground in their countries is very impressive,” Mr Sisifa said.
”The taskforce has also been lobbying actively at the political and departmental level and has already gained widespread support in the region.”

Mr Sisifa further commented that SPC’s technical assistance is complementing the efforts of national governments to introduce environmentally friendly practices and add value to produce. This assistance included support for organic farming.
”I am very pleased that authorities in Niue and Rotuma have announced their intention to declare their whole islands organic,” he said.

SPC’s Land Resources Division, through its European Union (EU) funded Facilitating Agriculture Commodity Trade (FACT) project, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development have collaborated with the University of the South Pacific and the Food and Agriculture Organization to host the meeting.

Participants from SPC member countries, including Samoa, Kiribati, Tonga, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Niue and Cook Islands attended the four-day meeting that ended on 9 July.
 

Amongst the expected outcomes of the meeting were deliberations on developing a policy for organic agriculture, synergy on fair trade issues with organics development and the adoption of a regional organic guideline acceptable to international organic certifying bodies.

For further information please contact Vinesh Prasad or LRD Helpdesk.

Heads of quarantine and plant protection meet

The lack of physical and human capacity for effectively delivering plant health services remains a challenge for the Pacific region. This impacts the region in various ways. For example, samples of new pest incursions must be sent overseas for identification, which is very expensive. Having the capacity to carry out this activity in-country would reduce costs and speed up pest information updates, thereby facilitating market access. Expanded plant health service capacity would also help the region cope with the impacts of changing temperature and rainfall patterns associated with climate change, which are affecting yields and the species and varieties of plant crops that can be grown.

These issues were among the many concerns raised at a regional meeting of heads of quarantine and plant protection held in Papua New Guinea (PNG), 29 June–3 July 2009. Over 50 regional and international delegates met for the 6th Pacific Plant Protection Organisation (PPPO) and 14th Regional Technical Meeting for Plant Protection (RTMPP). The meetings were hosted by PNG’s National Quarantine Inspection Authority, with funding assistance from the Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.

In his opening address, PNG’s Agriculture and Livestock Minister, John Hickey, challenged participants to identify issues and to make biosecurity measures, climate change initiatives and agricultural practices in the region relevant to international agreements and standards.
Mr Hickey said that PNG co-hosted the meeting because “the region was now vulnerable to the extremes of the current global challenges of climate change, rising food prices, biosecurity risks and depletion of plant genetic resources.”

SPC’s Land Resources Director, Mr ‘Aleki Sisifa, highlighted the challenge of climate change for the Pacific Islands in his keynote address.

“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has confirmed the vulnerability of small island states to the effects of climate change. Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns will affect yields and the species and varieties that we farm,” said Mr Sisifa. “More extreme rainfall patterns will result in production losses due to heat stress, drought conditions, water-logging, increased flooding of river catchments and soil erosions.
“Our leaders at their meeting in Niue last year expressed deep concern about the serious current impacts and growing threat posed by climate change to the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being and security of Pacific island countries.

“A few weeks ago the Pacific islands won a symbolic victory at the United Nations with the passage of a resolution recognising climate change as a possible threat to security,” said Mr Sisifa.
The meeting also heard about the lack of updated data on pests as well as diseases attacking crops in Pacific countries. Availability of such information is important in order for the Pacific produce to gain access to export markets. The high cost of travel associated with poor infrastructure and road networks has prevented country-wide surveys to be carried out to update information.
SPC continues to assist member countries in complying with their obligations under international conventions such as the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, UN Convention on Biological Diversity, International Plant Protection Convention, and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Another service developed by SPC is the Biosecurity Information Facility, a web-based information system that shows how to operate a national quarantine/biosecurity service as required by trading partners. The system provides instructions on what to do at the workplace, and also provides information on technical and legal guidance to support decisions made at critical points in import and export clearance of all types of commodities. As the system developed, the facility became very useful with daily quarantine operations, and the addition of various reference text plus linkages to databases and other information systems increased the usefulness of the facility allowing it to become a broadly based information system for use by all areas of biosecurity

SPC’s Land Resources Division has been assisting Pacific countries review, update and harmonise their national biosecurity laws over the past eight years. This activity is part of the broader programme on regional economic integration focused on facilitating regional and international trade; preventing the introduction of invasive species, pests and diseases; and facilitating closer working relationships among all border management agencies.

The regional organic standard — implemented by SPC and financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development — was officially launched in an evening event and attended by regional delegates. A small but active PNG organics team has begun coordinating the development of organic agriculture in PNG. The Pacific Organic Standard was first launched at the meeting of Forum Leaders in Niue last year. Activities are now focused on priority crops targeted for organic development.

The PPPO and RTMPP meetings ended with delegates making recommendations to improve trade as well as plant protection services in the Pacific through capacity strengthening assisted by donor partners
SPC has been the Secretariat to both the PPPO and the RTMPP since they were first established. Meeting outcomes of the two bodies have long guided the work of plant protection, biosecurity and trade facilitation agencies in the Pacific region, both at the policy and operational levels. These meetings have also been instrumental in shaping the broad direction and nature of assistance provided to member countries and territories by SPC with the support of donor and other strategic partners
 

For more information, please contact lrdhelpdesk@spc.int
 

LRD staff bound for Al Gore training

Land Resources Division (LRD) project assistant Reapi Masau and policy adviser Marita Manley have been selected from more than 2000 Australasian applicants to travel to Melbourne and complete a three-day intensive course where they will learn to deliver a version of the slide show from the documentary An Inconvenient Truth. It is the first time people from the Asia Pacific region have been specifically included in the program, which builds on the work of The Climate Project - Australia.

 The A-P Summit brings together 300 people representing a broad cross section of people from a diverse cross section of industry, advocacy and broad social groupings from Australasia and the Asia Pacific region. They will benefit from Mr Gore’s tutelage and the expertise of a panel of international scientists.

Once trained, Ms Masau and Ms Manley commit to completing 10 activities – to audiences of their choice. Five of those activities need be completed by November 30. The activities might be speaking to work colleagues about climate change, delivering a climate change presentation or talking to the media about their role.

“We are extremely proud that our staff are demonstrating significant commitment to addressing the causes and impacts of climate change. We will support them over the year to ensure they are as effective as possible in getting the message across,” LRD director ‘’Aleki Sisifa said.

“As an organisation and as Pacific islanders, we are committed to taking real strides in order to help avoid the worst of the climate crisis.

“The climate crisis is a challenge for all of us.”

 In Australia, one in seventy five Australians have now seen a presentation delivered by one of the 250 Al Gore trained Climate Project presenters working throughout communities in Australia.

 If you would like to request a presentation please contact Reapi or Marita at reapim@spc.int and maritam@spc.int

 For more information about The Climate Project – Australia and its international partners, go to www.acfonline.org.au/climateproject

New coconut products have strong market potential

Several promising new coconut products have been identified and discussed at the recent Asia Pacific Coconut Community – SPC Coconut Roundtable held in Nadi, Fiji.

Bottled coconut water could be developed as a refreshing beverage or sports drink, considerably broadening market opportunities for coconut products. New processing technologies enable coconut water to be bottled to taste the same as from the fresh green coconut, but with a storage life of up to 6 to 12 months.

According to Dr Rosa Rolle, a senior agro-industries and post-harvest officer of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) based in Thailand, consumer interest has flagged the product as one of the best isotonic health drinks available. "To competitively tap into these market opportunities, coconut water must be presented to the consumer in a convenient format.”
“The quality, safety and consistency of the product must be assured by implementing good practice from production of the raw material, through harvesting, handling processing and marketing,” Dr Rolle said.

She added that since the mid 1990s, FAO has provided technical assistance and support to member countries on work to prolong the shelf-life of coconut water. Dr Davina D Bawalan, an international coconut processing consultant, spoke of the importance of another product derived from coconut – virgin coconut oil (VCO). “Amongst plant-derived vegetable, seed and nut oils, VCO is unique in that it is the only oil with multi-functional uses.”

“VCO can be used in a wide range of edible and inedible applications, presenting great flexibility in marketing it,” Dr Bawalan said. She noted that copra-derived coconut oil has been produced and used commercially for more than a century, with the first coconut oil milling plant being established in the Philippines in 1908.  “Its use in edible and inedible applications is already well established. VCO can also be utilised in all applications where crude or cochin (refined, bleached and deodorised) coconut oil are traditionally used and will be a much better alternative if it can be made available in large volumes at an affordable price.”
“For edible purposes, coconut oil is generally used as frying and cooking oil because of its good resistance to developing rancidity.”

VCO could also be used as substitute for the expensive butterfat used in reconstituted milk and cheese and in ice cream to make the products cheaper and more affordable without changing their palatability. Hydrogenated coconut oil can be used for margarine, shortening and baking fats.

Coconut oil has several other edible applications. It provides a source of fat in infant formulas and baby foods because of its easy digestibility and absorbability. It is used as spray oil for crackers, cookies and cereals to enhance flavour and increase shelf life. The oil is also a common ingredient in confectionary.

Apart from its food value, coconut oil is used as raw material in the manufacture of laundry and bath soaps, biodegradable detergents, shampoos, shower gels and cleaning agents.
“With the advent of the energy crisis in the 1970s, coconut oil and coconut oil-derived coco methyl ester were tried as diesel fuel substitutes,” Dr Bawalan said. “At present, coco methyl ester is being used in the Philippines as a fuel additive or fuel enhancer for diesel, at a blend of up to 2%, to support the country’s Clean Air Act and Biofuels Act.” Dr Bawalan said several studies showed that adding coco methyl ester to diesel fuel substantially reduced smoke emission and nitrous oxide formation.

“In most Pacific Island countries, filtered coconut oil is blended with either diesel fuel or kerosene and used for automotive fuel and power generation.”
VCO is also finding new commercial applications as a hair and skin conditioner, an oil base for various cosmetic and skin care products, carrier oil for aromatherapy and massage oils, and as a nutraceutical and functional food.

Their comments were made during the two-day roundtable organised to discuss the latest trends in coconut processing and market prospects for the Pacific Islands. The meeting, which was attended by over 100 participants from 15 countries in the Asia- Pacific region, concluded with participants charting a way forward for the coconut industry in the region.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s Land Resources Division, through its EU-funded Facilitating Agriculture Commodity Trade (FACT) project, collaborated with the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community to organise the meeting.

The FACT project aims to sustainably increase the quality and range of exports of Pacific agriculture and forestry products, and to contribute to the integration of the 14 Pacific ACP countries into the regional and global economy.

For further information please contact Vinesh Prasad on telephone (679)3370733 , email Vineshp@spc.int or LRD Help Desk on email lrdhelpdesk@spc.int

SPC hosting regional consultation on global framework for animal disease control

Animal health issues in Pacific Island countries and territories are the focus of a regional consultation being hosted by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The two-day meeting (25 to 26 June 2009) will enable Pacific Island representatives to highlight key animal health issues for consideration under the FAO/OIE Global Framework for progressive control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADS).

The GF-TADS programme is aimed at developing and strengthening regional and national alliances in the fight against animal diseases, such as avian influenza and foot and mouth disease.

In opening the meeting, Dr Teruhide Fujita of OIE stressed the role of livestock in improving human nutrition, food security, livelihoods and agricultural and rural development.

‘We must be aware, however, that animal diseases are a constraint to livestock development, particularly emerging and transboundary animal diseases including zoonoses, which are diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans,’ said Dr Fujita.

Dr Fujita said it was difficult for a single country to tackle transboundary animal diseases because of their borderless nature. Building the capacity of veterinary services, improving international cooperation and forming regional alliances to control transboundary animal diseases (TADs) were therefore all crucial.

In his opening remarks, Dr Subhash Morzaria of the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand, noted that Pacific Islands were fortunate not to have major infectious disease problems in their livestock.

‘In this globalised world, disease incursions can occur quite unexpectedly with unpredictable results’, he said.

The primary objective for the Pacific region is to maintain a disease-free status so that the livestock industry can flourish, bringing with it improved food security and better livelihoods for smallholder farming communities.

‘It is imperative to strengthen regional approaches and define clear guidelines for prevention and control of diseases through rapid detection and response before any new disease incursion becomes a problem,’ said Dr Morzaria.

In his opening remarks, Dr Ken Cokanasiga, SPC Animal Health and Production Adviser, stated that within the Pacific, countries are categorised as small island states and least developed states.

‘The resources available to these communities are often stretched to meet even daily needs. They are therefore especially vulnerable to infections diseases and natural disasters. The Pacific region encompasses one-third of the world’s surface area and this vastness and extensive borders offer huge challenges to efforts to monitor incursions of transboundary animal diseases.  It is essential that national and regional preparedness efforts are strengthened to enable us to respond effectively to the threat of transboundary animal diseases.’

SPC is now the recognised Regional Specialised Organisation for the GF-TADs initiative and SPC’s Animal Health and Production section has been selected as its Regional Support Unit.

The two-day consultation meeting will recommend programmes and activities for the SPC region and these recommendations will form the basis for mobilising resources from a range of donors.

For more information, please contact lrdhelpdesk@spc.int

Fourth PHOVAPS Meeting

Pacific Heads of Veterinary and Animal Health Production Services (PHOVAPS) are this week meeting in Nadi to review animal health and production issues.

In opening the meeting, Mr ‘Aleki Sisifa, Director of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Land Resources Division, expressed concern at the low priority given by most Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) to developing their domestic livestock sector.
‘It’s well known that developing this sector could reduce spending of foreign earnings on importing animal products, especially with consumption steadily increasing. The recent food and fuel price rise crisis clearly demonstrated the need for strengthened domestic production strategies, particularly for root crops and animal protein sources. For PICTs the most expensive food imports during the crisis were rice, flour and animal products,’ said Mr Sisifa.

In PICTs with a strong tourism sector, opportunities exist for supplying hotels and associated facilities with fresh produce, animal products and substitutes for current imports, but the necessary linkages and systems must first be in place. Productivity can be improved by developing breeds adapted to Pacific conditions and through training programmes for livestock farmers.
‘SPC continues to collaborate with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in characterising local breeds of pigs and chickens and this will contribute to efforts to further develop the breeds that our production systems depend on. Identifying locally grown raw materials for animal feed could also lead to higher productivity.’

Some PICTs are making efforts to increase livestock production. National programmes and businesses and individual groups of farmers are increasingly importing breeding stock for tropical sheep, cattle and chickens from Fiji and elsewhere. SPC is providing as much assistance as it can to ensure such transactions are successfully concluded and the breeding stock arrive at their destinations in good order.
On another level, national initiatives including interventions on the supply side of the livestock supply chain are being assisted by projects such as Development of Sustainable Agriculture in the Pacific (DSAP), the Venezuela funds available under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and the Food Security and Sustainable Livelihoods Programme supported by FAO and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

The threats posed by avian Influenza and more recently the H1N1 pandemic demonstrate the importance of building technical capacity in the Pacific in the face of the potential entry of these dangerous viruses into the region. Further, as more and more Pacific Islanders become involved in intensive livestock production systems, their exposure to health risks from zoonoses – diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans – increases.

‘Through its project to build the region’s pandemic preparedness, SPC has increased capacity at the national level to develop, test and implement emergency response plans to deal with potential disease outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging diseases. Improving the health, welfare and general management of farm and other domestic animals is vital in minimising these risks,’ said Mr Sisifa.

Immediately following the PHOVAPS meeting, SPC will host a regional consultation with representatives of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and FAO to enable Pacific Island nations to highlight key animal health issues for consideration under the FAO/OIE Global Framework for progressive control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADS). The GF-TADS programme is a mechanism aimed at developing and strengthening regional and national alliances in the fight against animal diseases, such as bird flu and foot and mouth disease, but tailored to meet identified regional priorities.

PHOVAPS is the regional body responsible for identifying, guiding and prioritising issues for inclusion in the work programme of SPC’s Animal Health and Production team and meets biennially. The theme for the 2009 regional meeting is ‘Animal health and production – challenges and opportunities’. The meeting is being attended by both private and public sector representatives from all PICTs .

Both meetings are being held at the Tanoa International Hotel, Fiji, from 22 to 26 June, 2009.
 

For more information, please contact lrdhelpdesk@spc.int
 

International consultation to chart way forward for Pacific coconut industry

A roundtable on increasing trade in Pacific coconut products is being held over 17–18 June in Fiji. The Asia Pacific Coconut Community-SPC Roundtable will discuss the latest trends in coconut processing and market prospects.

During the official opening of the meeting, the  Director of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Land Resources Division, Mr ‘Aleki Sisifa, acknowledged the political support of the governments of Fiji and Samoa and welcomed the Hon. Joketani Cokanasiga, Fijian Minister of Primary Industries, and Hon. Taua Tavaga Kitiona, Samoa Minister for Agriculture. The meeting is being held at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi.

Mr Sisifa said that the Pacific region was experiencing unprecedented and accelerating change, with the population of Pacific island countries and territories having more than doubled over the last 50 years.
“We have made our voices heard in international forums about the real threat of losing land, even whole islands, to sea level rise, and the potential for increasingly extreme events associated with climate change,” Mr Sisifa said.

He said land degradation and associated floods and soil erosion had resulted in serious siltation of rivers and coastal areas. Soils were becoming more saline, drier, poorer in nutrients and richer in pests as fallow periods shortened.

“People farm on steeper and more marginal land as industries and settlements are opened up on arable land. More than 70% of our bio-diversity has been eroded over the past 50 years.”

‘However, the coconut provides a sustainable and calming influence. It has been with us since we settled these islands and continues to be a distinctive characteristic of the Pacific landscape.’

“The coconut has always been, still is, and will continue to be regarded as the “Tree of Life” because of its multiplicity of uses. Its leaves, fruits, stems and roots provide shelter, food, handicrafts and other cultural and traditional uses, as well as income for communities living in rural areas and outer islands.”

Mr Sisifa said that the coconut forms the basis of robust and sustainable multilayer farming systems that have been developed in Pacific countries and territories over generations. Intercropping of coconuts with food and cash crops and running cattle and small animals under coconuts have proven to be sustainable types of land use suited to the geographic, climatic and socio-economic conditions of Pacific Islands.
Research and development on the coconut has been occurring since the colonial days. More recently, the focus has been on their cultivation and maintenance.

Helping countries and territories to increase their export trade is a new area of focus for SPC with work being carried out through its European Union funded FACT (Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade) project.
Mr Sisifa expressed SPC’s gratitude to the European Union for this assistance.
The FACT project aims to sustainably increase the quality and range of exports of Pacific agriculture and forestry products, and to contribute to the integration of the 14 Pacific ACP countries into the regional and global economy.

The meeting, which is being attended by 100 participants from around the region, will end with participants charting a way forward for the region’s coconut industry.

For more information, please contact Vinesh Prasad, email vineshp@spc.int or lrdhelpdesk@spc.int

SPC partner with Global Crop Diversity Trust to safeguard collections of edible aroids and yams

SPC recently entered into a grant agreement with the Global Crop Diversity Trust. Under the agreement, the Trust will provide USD 50,000 annually, in perpetuity, towards the long-term conservation of the collections of edible aroids and yams held by the Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePaCT) on behalf of the Pacific region.

“This is the first long-term grant provided by the Trust to a collection outside of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR),” said Dr Mary Taylor, manager of the CePaCT genebank based at SPC, Suva.

The Trust and SPC are enthusiastic about this partnership and what it means for sustainable conservation and utilisation of the region’s important crop diversity, and therefore for food and nutritional security and economic growth in the Pacific region.

“The importance of crop diversity to sustainable development in the Pacific region is becoming more and more apparent, especially as farmers try to maintain and improve food production in the face of a changing climate,” said Dr Taylor.

The agreement with the Trust came into effect when SPC member countries placed the collections held by CePaCT in the Multilateral System of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). The Hon. Taua Kitiona, Samoa’s Minister of Agriculture, representing other ministers and the region, formally placed these collections into the Treaty system at the 3rd Session of the Governing Body of the ITPGRFA during the opening ceremony on 1 June.

For more information, please contact lrdhelpdesk@spc.int

Pacific region joins global system for conserving and using plant genetic resources for food and agriculture

Pacific region joins global system for conserving and using plant genetic resources for food and agriculture
Recognising that international cooperation and open exchange of genetic resources are both essential for food security, the Pacific region has placed the collections held by the Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePaCT) in the Multilateral System of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA).

The Hon. Taua Kitiona, Samoa’s Minister of Agriculture, representing other ministers and the region, attended the 3rd Session of the Governing Body of the ITPGRFA in Tunis, and in the opening ceremony on 1 June formally placed these collections into the treaty system. With the ITPGRFA, crops that produce our food – breads, curries, tortillas – are put into a common pool. The treaty facilitates access to those crops for all users and ensures fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from their use.

The ITPGRFA is a global treaty for food security and sustainable agriculture, and is vital for ensuring the continued availability of the plant genetic resources that countries need to feed their people. Crop diversity is an essential tool for generating crop varieties that can help farmers manage climate change. Like all other nations of the world, Pacific Island countries and territories do not have enough crop diversity within their borders to sustain productive systems. Outbreaks of new pests and diseases can wreak havoc with crops that do not include resistant varieties. This was dramatically illustrated in Samoa in the early 1990s when taro leaf blight totally destroyed taro production because of the susceptibility of the cultivar being used. Climate change is likely to bring other similar challenges.

In 1996, to address these challenges, Pacific Ministers of Agriculture attending a meeting hosted by SPC resolved to put in place policies and programmes to conserve, protect and use their plant genetic resources effectively for development. In response, SPC established a regional genebank in 1998, now known as the Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePaCT). SPC’s work on genetic resources has not stopped with the establishment of the genebank. An active network – PAPGREN – was established in 2004 to strengthen capacity in the region for conservation and utilisation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. Much has been achieved by both the Centre and PAPGREN in raising awareness of the importance of crop diversity in the region, especially in light of current challenges.

In their second regional conference in Samoa in 2008, Pacific Ministers and Heads of Agriculture and Forestry acknowledged that although the Pacific has significant diversity, there is no assurance that national biodiversity will be sufficient to sustain food production in the future, especially given the projected effects of climate change. The region must be able to access the global pool of genetic diversity, which can be achieved through ratification of the treaty. At the same time, the ministers also saw the importance of putting in place mechanisms to establish the key collections of the Pacific within the global system, enabling the region to contribute to global food security and be part of a global network that will support the sustainable conservation and use of these collections in the future.

“The signing of these agreements by SPC has been fully endorsed by the Pacific region, recognising we live in one world despite the miles between us. To survive the many challenges of this century, we need to work together, sharing our resources and importantly further recognising that the genetic diversity found in genebanks today may become the most important resource we have in shaping an effective response to climate change,” said the Hon. Taua Kitiona Seulala in his address to the governing body of the Treaty.

For more information, please contact lrdhelpdesk@spc.int

SPC coordinating fight against transboundary animal diseases

Pacific Heads of Veterinary and Animal Health Production Services (PHOVAPS) will meet to review animal health and production issues in the region from 22 to 24 June 2009, at Tanoa Hotel, Nadi, Fiji.

PHOVAPS is the regional body responsible for identifying, guiding and prioritising issues for inclusion in the work programme of SPC’s Animal Health and Production team and meets biennially. The theme for the 2009 regional meeting is ‘Animal health and production – challenges and opportunities’.

The meeting will be attended by representatives from all Pacific Island countries and territories from both the private and public sector. International specialists will cover topics such as biosecurity, animal husbandry, nutrition, genetic improvement and detection and management of emerging disease threats.

Immediately following the PHOVAPS meeting, SPC’s Animal health and Production team will host another regional consultation meeting with representatives of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and PICT reps to enable Pacific Island nations to highlight key animal health issues for consideration under the FAO/OIE Global Framework for progressive control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADS). The GF-TADS programme is a mechanism aimed at developing and strengthening regional and national alliances in the fight against transboundary animal diseases, such as bird flu and foot and mouth disease, but tailored to meet identified regional priorities. The regional GF – TADs consultation meeting will be held from 25 to 26 June 2009.

At the 2nd Regional GF-TADs Steering Committee meeting for Asia and the Pacific held in Bangkok in July 2007, SPC was identified as one of three ‘sub-regional’ agencies within the Asia and Pacific region to promote and support the development of the GF-TADs framework. SPC member countries have requested that FAO and OIE support efforts for preparedness and control of emerging transboundary animal diseases in the Pacific region and the upcoming GF-TADS consultation will serve as a forum to formalise arrangements for establishing a regional support unit for GF-TADs.

Founded as an international organisation in 1947, SPC was the first such organisation established in the Pacific island region. It has 26 members, including 22 Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs). Four PICTs, namely Fiji, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), are OIE members and 14 are FAO members – Cook Islands, Fiji, FSM, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

For more information, please contact lrdhelpdesk@spc.int

ICT and media to support agriculture extension services in the Pacific

Information about agriculture needs to be presented in a way that makes it relevant to people’s lives and interests to be attractive to local news outlets and to the general public.

This was one of the recommendations following a panel discussion on the role of media in extension during the 2^nd Extension Summit in Nadi, Fiji Islands.

The perception that agriculture is a poor person’s profession points to the critical need for the media and extension officers to work together. The lack of interest in agriculture among youth in the Pacific may be due to a lack of awareness of opportunities and professions that are available in agriculture. Agricultural graduates go on to pursue specialist careers, becoming soil scientists, plant health specialists, agricultural economists, veterinarians, foresters, conservationists, or progressive farmers.

According to one panellist, Samisoni Pareti of Islands Business International (IBI), media and extension officers need to develop good working relationships and encourage a healthy exchange of information to assist in rural development.

‘We should not see each other as competitors but instead as partners complementing each other’s work. The media can further the work of extension.

‘I strongly believe in exposing journalists to extension work carried out by agriculture and forestry extension officers and providing basic training for extension officers in developing and packaging news.’

Pareti also suggested that through partnerships, youths can also be encouraged to consider professions related to agriculture and forestry.

‘I also urge regional organisations to include round table meetings and media briefings during major events to create awareness regarding their work activities.’

The issue of media costs was brought up by delegates. Panellists pointed out opportunities for extension officers to access the media at minimal cost, such as using radio personalities to place messages. Panellists also discussed low cost media formats such as the portable suitcase radio which can go into communities to broadcast development work on the ground.

Nacanieli Takele of the information unit of the Fiji Islands Ministry of Primary Industries spoke about the success of the ministry’s client-driven helpdesk service. The service, which was launched last year, links farmers directly to the ministry’s technical divisions. 

Anju Mangal of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) spoke about expanding the access of Pacific Island countries and territories to information and communications technology (ICT) in order to improve farmers’ quality of life and strengthen the economy. She focused on the use of mobile phones as a tool to facilitate and enhance agricultural development.

According to Ms  Mangal, ‘The introduction and implementation of knowledge and learning centres and the use of mobile technologies in rural areas can aid in the achievement of agricultural information and knowledge sharing, ultimately improving the lives of Pacific Island communities.’

She continued, ‘For policy-makers, the availability of reliable and relevant information is critical for addressing the issue of climate and food security.’

The use of community learning centres as a focal point to allow farmers access to information was also highlighted as one innovative way to improve extension services. Developing relevant content remains a challenge to extension workers in the operation of community learning centres. CTA is quite keen on promoting this initiative.

The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative and the creation of the XO laptop was also demonstrated as an innovative tool to connect to the Internet using a rugged low-cost laptop. The objective of the initiative which started in 2006 is to reach the nearly 2 billion children of the developing world with little or no access to education. Mr Laurie Fooks of LRD’s Animal Health and Production team challenged the group to take advantage of the unique capabilities and opportunities presented by the Oceania OLPC program, together with the Pacific Rural Internet Connectivity System (PACRICS), to empower rural communities.

As an example of the flexibility of the OLPC to provide extension oriented material, Mr Fooks demonstrated access to SPC’s Paravet training material on the OLPC through an online learning framework and as an e-book and an interactive training package.

Extension work continues to face challenges given scarcity in human, financial and physical resources. SPC is working to use ICT to improve the accessibility, quality and relevance of advisory services provided to farmers/growers to allow them to effectively participate and adapt to a dynamic global environment.

The key objectives of the SPC’s work in this area are to address the need to deliver information using low cost and assistive mobile technologies, to evaluate the use of mobile technologies to improve technical assistance, to market information to farmers in three pilot countries, and to assess the use of mobile technologies in enhancing policy.

ICT has successfully been used to contribute to the dissemination of information to farmers in several countries.

Delegates also heard about a pilot exercise in the Kingdom of Tonga where mobile phones are used to facilitate communication between farmers and extension officers.

At the summit, participants were asked to discuss innovative ways to transform extension services to better reach farmers with new knowledge and technology, given the limitations in physical and human resources.

Sixty participants from 17 Pacific Island countries and territories, including some in the northern Pacific, are participating in the week-long gathering of extension and outreach experts with the theme ‘transforming extension and outreach in the Pacific for sustainable development’.

The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) is the major sponsor of the summit. SPC’s Land Resources Division (LRD) is a co-sponsor and is supporting events and providing funding to bring participants to the summit. Other co-sponsors include the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the University of the South Pacific (USP), German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).

For more information, please contact lrdhelpdesk@spc.int

International consultation to chart way forward for Pacific coconut industry

A roundtable discussion to look at options to increasing trade in coconut-based products for the Pacific will be held 17 – 18 June, 2009, at Tanoa International, Nadi, Fiji. The two day discussion will focus on the state of the art of coconut processing and market prospects in the Pacific.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s Land Resource Division through its EU-funded Facilitating Agriculture Commodity Trade (FACT) project is collaborating with the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) to coordinate the roundtable-discussion meeting for the Pacific countries. The Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) and the Fiji Coconut Industry Development Authority (CIDA) are also providing support for this roundtable meeting.
Issues to be discussed will include appropriate technologies, quality standards and marketing on the food and non-food coconut-based products. Another key issue for discussion will be the use of coconuts products for fuel, including filtered crude coconut oil as a biofuel for outer islands.

The roundtable discussion will have four major objectives which are:

* Assess the needs, technology gaps and discuss issues on coconut processing in APCC Pacific member countries and identify appropriate interventions by government, non-governmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations, and international donor agencies ;
* Identify integrated coconut processing models that are technically and economically feasible to small island communities capable of producing value-added coconut products for the local and export market;
* Define appropriate models of transfer of technologies including training of entrepreneurs, women's groups and other capacity building activities;
* Conduct value-chain analysis and define market promotion strategies and activities in the potential markets.

The two day meeting is also expected to map out a research and development plan for the coconut industry in the Pacific Islands.
Apart from participants deliberating on important issues relating to coconut industry, the general public will also be invited to visit Coconut enterprise display booths that will be set up around the meeting venue at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi. The display booths will allow the public to discover the various uses of coconut and how best to utilize this readily available resource.

The APCC is the first intergovernmental commodity body to be set up in the region under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). APCC is an intergovernmental organization of 15 full member countries, composed of The Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Republic of Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vanuatu, and Vietnam. 

The EU-funded FACT project aims to sustainably increase the quality and range of exports of Pacific agriculture and forestry products, and to contribute to the integration of the 14 Pacific ACP countries into the regional and global economy.

For further information please contact Vinesh Prasad on telephone (679)3370733 or email Vineshp@spc.int.


For further information please contact lrdhelpdesk@spc.int.

Participatory extension methods are encouraged

Taking participatory approach to deliver innovations to farming communities has proved to be one of the best extension approaches in the region.

This was revealed by team leader of EU funded Development of sustainable Agriculture in the Pacific (DSAP) project, Dr Siosiua Halavatau during 2nd Extension Summit currently underway in Novotel Hotel in Nadi.
“Involving farmers in developing new technology from very beginning of the development process is one of the best methods of technology transfer.”

“Farmers to be treated as stakeholders and involved in any innovations those extension officers want to deliver.” Dr Halavatau
Sixty (60) participants from 17 Pacific island member countries including the northern Pacific are participating in the weeklong gathering of extension and outreach experts.

Transforming extension and outreach in the Pacific for sustainable development is the theme of the summit.

“The theme of this summit is appropriate and really emphasizes the need for participatory approach.” Dr Halavatau added.

Pacific Island countries are plagued with many issues such as climatic change, increased poverty and global recession.

Taking a serious look at agriculture with renewed approaches could be the lifesaver to many of the Pacific Islands problem.

Sessions in the summit has covered areas such as policy directives on extension and outreach, the changing role of extension and outreach in the current global financial crisis in light of the risk of an ensuing food crisis, and the role of extension and outreach for sustainable development.

Participants are also expected to engage in arbor week celebration that will be held later in the week.

During first extension summit that was held in Tonga in 2005 established the Pacific Islands Extension Network, which is currently hosted at SPC’s LRD. Its principal aim is to provide capacity building assistance to Pacific Island countries and territories to improve the delivery of extension services.

The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) is the major sponsor of the summit. SPC’s LRD is a co-sponsor and is sponsoring events and providing support to bring participants to the summit. Other co-sponsors include FAO, USP, GTZ, and AusAID.

For further information please contact lrdhelpdesk@spc.int.

Fiji Islands national planning workshop to develop international carbon market instruments

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community/German Technical Cooperation (SPC/GTZ) Pacific–German Regional Programme on Adaptation to Climate Change will be holding a national planning workshop for the Fiji component on 19–21 May 2009. The climate change project is a four-year programme that started in January 2009, with a German contribution of up to 4.2 million Euros. The main national implementing partners in Fiji Islands are the Department of Environment and the Ministry of Primary Industries.
The Fiji planning workshop is one of three national-level project planning workshops undertaken by the programme; workshops will also take place in Vanuatu and Tonga. Stakeholders will work together at this event in identifying appropriate steps and collaborative actions needed for the four-year project. The workshop will bring together participants from government departments, non-governmental organisations, the private sector, landowner representatives and regional agencies.
A major project component for Fiji Islands is the development of international carbon market instruments in order to reduce deforestation. The project will support Fiji Islands in identifying an appropriate and feasible carbon market instrument for REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) projects.
Currently REDD is a controversial issue in climate change circles. In the recent United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF-8) meeting in New York, SPC emphasised the development of a REDD mechanism within the context of a sustainable forest management (SFM) regime and delivered the statement, ‘we want to reiterate the region’s vulnerability to impacts of climate change and that we welcome the ongoing work at UNFCCC [United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change] and other fora to address the issue including the consideration of REDD as an important mitigation mechanism in developing countries. However, we need to recognise that it should not be seen as an alternative to SFM but rather a component of it.’ This statement is in support of the Fiji Islands national communication to the UNFCCC secretariat, which considers SFM to be the basis for all mitigating strategies.
There are still many complexities that surround REDD and related carbon trading instruments. However, there is a clear need for an instrument that is beneficial to resource owners and contributes to national sustainable development.
The workshop will allow participants to discuss and identify appropriate steps needed to set up such an instrument. They will be supported by the presence of REDD and carbon trading expert Dr Sean Weaver of Carbon Partnership Ltd, New Zealand, and a specialist on REDD community projects, Mr Robbie Henderson, Manager of the Climate Change & Indigenous Programs, Live & Learn Environmental Education Office, Northern Territory, Australia.
The three-day planning workshop begins on Tuesday 19 May at the Lami Tradewinds Convention Centre and will be opened by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment, Mr Chandar Ram.

For more information, please contact lrdhelpdesk@spc.int
 

Regional experts in extension gather for second summit

SPC Land Resources Division is organizing the second Pacific Extension Summit themed, “transforming extension and outreach in the Pacific for sustainable development”, held from 18th to 22nd May at Novotel Hotel in Nadi, Fiji.

Sixty (60) participants from 17 Pacific island member countries including the northern Pacific are will participate in the weeklong gathering of extension and outreach experts.

Fiji Minister for Primary Industries, Mr Joketani Cokanisiga, in delivering the opening address of the 2nd Pacific Extension Summit commented on the theme of the Summit as a timely intervention as Pacific countries strive to deal with a multitude of challenges such as the financial crisis, food security and climate change whilst keeping our countries on a path to sustainable development.

“Fiji ministry for primary industries is forging ahead with its development efforts and welcomes the valuable collaboration with organizations such as SPC that provide assistance to these efforts.”

“Our extension staff are very much aware of the importance of trade through the tourism sector and will be working on a completely new way of introducing more locally grown items to our overseas visitors,” said Cokanasiga.

CTA course director Dr John Wooden, said CTA as main extension summit co-sponsor is part and parcel of a binding agreement between the EU and ACP countries. It now operates under the Cotonou Agreement, which was signed in 2000. Part of CTA work focuses on providing information products and services such as publication production and dissemination, in addition to promoting the integrated use of communication tools to improve flow of information.

“Extension, particularly of the participatory and two-way type, is of crucial importance to agriculture, research and development. We as agriculturists can contribute to improving rural livelihoods and well-being of our people. The rapid emergence of improved pervasiveness of ICTs in agriculture we must seize and adapt to meet our needs,” said Dr Wooden.

CTA is also very interested in the establishment and use of telecentres in rural areas. The centres would provide computers and related services to the poor and isolated, bringing with them the possibility of providing up-to-date information and even opportunities to sell their products through websites, for example. The initiative is currently being piloted in Africa, and will soon come to the Pacific.

SPC Land Resources Director Mr ‘Aleki Sisifa said the role of the agricultural extension services has significantly expanded over time particularly with the increasing major challenges at the global, regional and national levels.

“We need to ensure food and livelihood security for our people in the face of volatile food prices; the need to ensure sustainable land management and at the same time open up land for development within the confines of our customary land policies; sea level rise, inundation and increasing natural disasters associated with climate change; the globalisation of trade and the need for PICTs to engage more in international and regional trade; and the need to increasingly engage our youth and women in agriculture and forestry development.

“We in extension and outreach services need to expand the size of our tool boxes and add new and improved tools and knowledge, if we are to make a difference, through implementation of the policies and strategies that we are tasked to deliver to our stakeholders,”

“The importance of building private public sector partnerships, recognised now as critical to sustainability as never before, will be further explored during this summit to identify ways to create an enabling environment where these relationships can flourish for the benefit of both sectors.

“I am particularly happy to see that the media is involved in this summit. The media is an essential partner of the extensionist and needs to be involved more if our messages are to be effective in influencing decisions of policy makers, communities, private sector and the farmers,” said Sisifa.

The summit will also look at the role that networks and ICT play to improve the communication of extension information for technology transfer in an inclusive manner.

Sessions in the summit will cover areas such as policy directives on extension and outreach, the changing role of extension and outreach in the current global financial crisis in light of the risk of an ensuing food crisis, and the role of extension and outreach for sustainable development.

Delegates will deliberate also on the role of extension and outreach in regional and international trade, how to better engage youth in the agriculture and forestry sector, private–public sector partnerships, capacity building for extension and outreach service providers, and the role of networks and information and communications technology (ICT) in extension and outreach in the Pacific.

The first extension summit, held in Tonga in 2005, established the Pacific Islands Extension Network, which is currently hosted at SPC’s LRD. Its principal aim is to provide capacity building assistance to Pacific Island countries and territories to improve the delivery of extension services.

The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) is the major sponsor of the summit. SPC’s LRD is a co-sponsor and is sponsoring events and providing support to bring participants to the summit. Other co-sponsors include FAO, USP, GTZ, and AusAID.

For more information, please contact our help desk, lrdhelpdesk@spc.int