PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 4:24 PM by Luigi

Cash crop news

Two news items on Pacific Islands Report this morning dealing with cash crops in the region (Note: "nono" or "noni" is Morinda citrifolia):

TAHITI TO BUILD $14.3 MILLION "NONO" JUICE FACTORY

PAPEETE, Tahiti (Tahitipresse: May 27) - A foundation stone was put in place on May 25 for the construction of a 1.4 billion French Pacific franc (US$14.3 million) factory designed to help Tahiti double its yearly "nono" juice exports starting in 2005.

The "nono" juice factory is to be completed in September 2004, creating employment for 30 people in the Atimaono Territorial Domain in Mataiea on Tahiti’s south coast.

The factory is being built for Morinda, a company that markets Tahiti’s "nono" juice overseas.

"Nono" is a fruit attributed with having healing properties. The range of by-products coming from this fruit has recently grown bigger to include dietary supplements, cosmetic products and herbal teas, creating a list of original products capable of conquering new export markets.

French Polynesia Vice President Edouard Fritch, who put the factory’s foundation stone in place, gave a speech during which he assessed the path traveled since the creation of the Morinda in 1996.

This company mainly exports the nono juice to the U.S.A.

"Over the years, the noni has become an essential part of French Polynesia’s agricultural landscape," Fritch said. "The activity now concerns several hundred collectors spread throughout our five archipelagoes. It constitutes for them an extraordinary chance in terms of active employment and income." Last year, nearly 4,000 tons of fruit was harvested. That translated into gross agricultural revenues evaluated at 240 million CFP (US$2.4 million), according to Fritch.

For French Polynesia, that meant 3,600 tons of nono purée was exported to the U.S., representing a value of 960 million CFP (US$9.8 million), Fritch said.

Morinda hopes to export 8,000 tons of nono during 2005. After the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea, the Chinese and European markets are opening to nono and its by-products.

NIUE LOOKING AT VANILLA AS CASH CROP

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (RNZI, May 28) - The Niue Government says its first assessments of the viability of vanilla as a cash crop is promising.

The island is investigating options for economic development in agriculture, fishing and tourism, areas in which New Zealand has indicated it is prepared to offer assistance.

Planning and Economic Development Minister Bill Motufoou was recently sent to French Polynesia to research vanilla growing there.

The Premier, Young Vivian, said at today’s cabinet meeting that Motufoou was instructed to submit concrete proposals for vanilla farming.

"In other words, how do we get say fifty acres or hundred this year. What do we have to do....How much money....Do we concentrate on a small little gardens at home or do we aim for one acre per family.....Or do we aim for five acres, three acres to five acres,. He'll have to work that out.....But I think I'd like to take all options aboard."



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DIVA-GIS	Thursday, May 29, 2003 Posted 4:24 PM by Luigi Cash crop news Two news items on Pacific Islands Report this morning dealing with cash crops in the region (Note: "nono" or "noni" is Morinda citrifolia): TAHITI TO BUILD $14.3 MILLION "NONO" JUICE FACTORY PAPEETE, Tahiti (Tahitipresse: May 27) - A foundation stone was put in place on May 25 for the construction of a 1.4 billion French Pacific franc (US$14.3 million) factory designed to help Tahiti double its yearly "nono" juice exports starting in 2005. The "nono" juice factory is to be completed in September 2004, creating employment for 30 people in the Atimaono Territorial Domain in Mataiea on Tahiti’s south coast. The factory is being built for Morinda, a company that markets Tahiti’s "nono" juice overseas. "Nono" is a fruit attributed with having healing properties. The range of by-products coming from this fruit has recently grown bigger to include dietary supplements, cosmetic products and herbal teas, creating a list of original products capable of conquering new export markets. French Polynesia Vice President Edouard Fritch, who put the factory’s foundation stone in place, gave a speech during which he assessed the path traveled since the creation of the Morinda in 1996. This company mainly exports the nono juice to the U.S.A. "Over the years, the noni has become an essential part of French Polynesia’s agricultural landscape," Fritch said. "The activity now concerns several hundred collectors spread throughout our five archipelagoes. It constitutes for them an extraordinary chance in terms of active employment and income." Last year, nearly 4,000 tons of fruit was harvested. That translated into gross agricultural revenues evaluated at 240 million CFP (US$2.4 million), according to Fritch. For French Polynesia, that meant 3,600 tons of nono purée was exported to the U.S., representing a value of 960 million CFP (US$9.8 million), Fritch said. Morinda hopes to export 8,000 tons of nono during 2005. After the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea, the Chinese and European markets are opening to nono and its by-products. NIUE LOOKING AT VANILLA AS CASH CROP WELLINGTON, New Zealand (RNZI, May 28) - The Niue Government says its first assessments of the viability of vanilla as a cash crop is promising. The island is investigating options for economic development in agriculture, fishing and tourism, areas in which New Zealand has indicated it is prepared to offer assistance. Planning and Economic Development Minister Bill Motufoou was recently sent to French Polynesia to research vanilla growing there. The Premier, Young Vivian, said at today’s cabinet meeting that Motufoou was instructed to submit concrete proposals for vanilla farming. "In other words, how do we get say fifty acres or hundred this year. What do we have to do....How much money....Do we concentrate on a small little gardens at home or do we aim for one acre per family.....Or do we aim for five acres, three acres to five acres,. He'll have to work that out.....But I think I'd like to take all options aboard." * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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