PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 2:32 PM by Luigi

Pohnpei World Food Day Agricultural Fair a Success

This press release just arrived from Lois Englberger in Pohnpei.

Over 500 people gathered Friday 15 October at the Spanish Wall Baseball Field to celebrate World Food Day along with a diversity of local food crops, an amazing display of huge yams, and presentations of the Art, Essay, and Healthy Cooking Competitions, following the theme: Island Foods - Grow and eat yellow varieties for health and wealth.

The activity was organized by the World Food Day Committee and Island Food Community of Pohnpei, with Pohnpei Agriculture of Economic Affairs, College of Micronesia-FSM, Departments of Education and Health, Head Start, Attorney-General's Office, and CSP. Over $4500 in prize money was presented to farmers, competing in 50 categories with 288 entries and displaying 17 varieties of bananas, including 14 yellow-fleshed varieties having great health benefits: Karat Pako, Karat Pwehu, Karat Kole, Mangat, Ihpali, Kudud, Karat en Iap, Utin Iap, Utimwas, Taiwang, Akadahn, Akadahn Weitahta, Utiak, and Utin Kerenis. The high value of these yellow-fleshed varieties was emphasized by the high prizes ($50, $40, and $30 for first, second, and third prizes compared to $15, $10, and $5 for the corresponding prizes for the common varieties (Utin Ruk, Utin Menihle, and Inasio). Participants in the five categories of yellow-fleshed giant swamp taro varieties competed for the same high prizes as the carotenoid-rich banana varieties.

Emeren Manasa and Moses Edgar pulled in the highest prizes of the Fair, $245 each, as their whopper single vine (oahnoapwoat) 245-pound Kehp en Peniou yams tied for 1st Prize. The yam prizes were awarded by weight, at $1/pound. Kesia Paulino with her 220-pounder and Welson Peter with his 170-pounder won 2nd and 3rd Prize ($220 and $170). Welson Peter and Leon Sizumu tied for 1st with their Kehp en Dol en Wai yams, weighing 154 and 155 pounds, Emeren Manasa was 2nd with a 150-pounder and Iumy Gilemete came in 3rd with a 145-pounder. Kesia Paulino won the Master Exhibitor award, taking over $500 of prizes in categories from Karat Pako, Mangat, Inahsio, Mwahng Pwiliet, papaya, karertik, coconut, bele, squash, pumpkin and Chinese cabbage.

Adelino Lorens, Pohnpei Chief of Agriculture/Chairman of the Island Food Community of Pohnpei, presided as Master of Ceremonies. He stated that this was the first state Agricultural Fair in many years and that the event attracted great attention, particularly the great size of the yams, despite the yam disease. He added, "The event was a success in showing the local food crops. Farmers are now already planning for next year!" During the official program the keynote speaker Iso Salvador Iriarte strongly encouraged people to produce and eat local foods, pointing out that despite people's thinking that ice cream is good for the sick, he knows that it can make a person sick. Elementary students Consuela Abraham from Saladak, and Janice Kapriel from Seinwar, read their winning essays and winning art entries were displayed, from Headstart to 8th Grade.

The Cooking Competition section was a flurry of activities, with 12 participants and 20 entries. The COM-FSM Pohnpei Campus Hotel Restaurant Management students made a sweep of prizes in the restaurant category, displaying beautifully presented Pandanus Muffin Delights, Taiwang Banana Bread, Karat Banana Sorbet, and Mangrove Crab Swamp Taro Volcanoes. Pelihda Walter, Yunis Hedgar, Delse Ernest, and Merlain Abraham won 1st Prizes respectively in the Karat, Taiwang, Giant Swamp Taro, and Local Food Open categories.

Funding support was provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United Nations Children's Fund, Sight and Life, Australian Embassy, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Pacific Agricultural Plant Genetic Resources Network, and the Pacific German Regional Forestry Program.



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This weblog documents the activities of Pacific Agricultural Genetic Resources Network (PAPGREN), along with other information on plant genetic resources (PGR) in the Pacific. The myriad varieties found within cultivated plants are fundamental to the present and future productivity of agriculture. PAPGREN, which is coordinated by the Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), helps Pacific countries and territories to conserve their crop genetic diversity sustainably, with technical assistance from the Bioversity International (BI) and support from NZAID and ACIAR. SPC also hosts the Centre of Pacific Crops and Trees (CEPaCT). The CEPaCT maintains regional in vitro collections of crops important to the Pacific and carries out research on tissue culture technology. The CEPaCT Adviser is Dr Mary Taylor (MaryT@spc.int), the CEPaCT Curator is Ms Valerie Tuia (ValerieT@spc.int). PAPGREN coordination and support IPGRI ACIAR NZAID CTA SPC PAPGREN CEPaCT Click on the thumbnail to see a map of the locations of Pacific genebanks. Click here to download a regional directory of genebanks in the Pacific, including information on their location, contact details and holdings. PAPGREN partners Mr William Wigmore Director of Research Ministry of Agriculture Department of Resources & Development P.O. Box 96 Rarotonga Cook Islands Tel: (682) 28711-29720 Fax: (682) 21881 Email: cimoa@oyster.net.ck Mr Adelino S. Lorens Chief Agriculture Pohnpei Office of Economic Affairs P.O. Box 1028 Kolonia Pohnpei 96941 Federated States of Micronesia Tel: (691) 3202400 Fax: (691) 3202127 Email: pniagriculture@mail.fm Dr Lois Englberger Island Food Community of Pohnpei Research Advisor P.O. Box 2299 Kolonia Pohnpei 96941 Federated States of Micronesia Email: nutrition@mail.fm Mr Apisai Ucuboi Director of Research Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forest Koronivia Research Station P.O. Box 77 Nausori Fiji Islands Tel: (679) 3477044 Fax: (679) 3477546-400262 Email: apisainu@yahoo.com Dr Maurice Wong Service du Developpement Rural B.P. 100 Papeete Tahiti 98713 French Polynesia Tel: (689) 42 81 44 Fax: (689) 42 08 31 Email: maurice.wong@rural.gov.pf Mr Tianeti Beenna Ioane Head, Research Section Division of Agriculture Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development P.O. Box 267 Tarawa Kiribati Tel: (686) 28096-28108-28080 Fax: (686) 28121 Email : agriculture@tskl.net.ki; Beenna_ti@yahoo.com Mr Frederick Muller Secretary Ministry of Resources & Development P.O. Box 1727 Majuro 96960 Marshall Islands Tel: (692) 6253206 Fax: (692) 6257471 Email: rndsec@ntamar.net Mr Herman Francisco Director Bureau of Agriculture Ministry of Resources & Development P.O. Box 460 Koror 96940 Palau Tel: (680) 4881517 Fax: (680) 4881725 Email: bnrd@pnccwg.palaunet.com Ms Rosa Kambuou Principal Scientist PGR NARI Dry Lowlands Programme Laloki Agricultural Research Station P.O. 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DIVA-GIS	Wednesday, October 20, 2004 Posted 2:32 PM by Luigi Pohnpei World Food Day Agricultural Fair a Success This press release just arrived from Lois Englberger in Pohnpei. Over 500 people gathered Friday 15 October at the Spanish Wall Baseball Field to celebrate World Food Day along with a diversity of local food crops, an amazing display of huge yams, and presentations of the Art, Essay, and Healthy Cooking Competitions, following the theme: Island Foods - Grow and eat yellow varieties for health and wealth. The activity was organized by the World Food Day Committee and Island Food Community of Pohnpei, with Pohnpei Agriculture of Economic Affairs, College of Micronesia-FSM, Departments of Education and Health, Head Start, Attorney-General's Office, and CSP. Over $4500 in prize money was presented to farmers, competing in 50 categories with 288 entries and displaying 17 varieties of bananas, including 14 yellow-fleshed varieties having great health benefits: Karat Pako, Karat Pwehu, Karat Kole, Mangat, Ihpali, Kudud, Karat en Iap, Utin Iap, Utimwas, Taiwang, Akadahn, Akadahn Weitahta, Utiak, and Utin Kerenis. The high value of these yellow-fleshed varieties was emphasized by the high prizes ($50, $40, and $30 for first, second, and third prizes compared to $15, $10, and $5 for the corresponding prizes for the common varieties (Utin Ruk, Utin Menihle, and Inasio). Participants in the five categories of yellow-fleshed giant swamp taro varieties competed for the same high prizes as the carotenoid-rich banana varieties. Emeren Manasa and Moses Edgar pulled in the highest prizes of the Fair, $245 each, as their whopper single vine (oahnoapwoat) 245-pound Kehp en Peniou yams tied for 1st Prize. The yam prizes were awarded by weight, at $1/pound. Kesia Paulino with her 220-pounder and Welson Peter with his 170-pounder won 2nd and 3rd Prize ($220 and $170). Welson Peter and Leon Sizumu tied for 1st with their Kehp en Dol en Wai yams, weighing 154 and 155 pounds, Emeren Manasa was 2nd with a 150-pounder and Iumy Gilemete came in 3rd with a 145-pounder. Kesia Paulino won the Master Exhibitor award, taking over $500 of prizes in categories from Karat Pako, Mangat, Inahsio, Mwahng Pwiliet, papaya, karertik, coconut, bele, squash, pumpkin and Chinese cabbage. Adelino Lorens, Pohnpei Chief of Agriculture/Chairman of the Island Food Community of Pohnpei, presided as Master of Ceremonies. He stated that this was the first state Agricultural Fair in many years and that the event attracted great attention, particularly the great size of the yams, despite the yam disease. He added, "The event was a success in showing the local food crops. Farmers are now already planning for next year!" During the official program the keynote speaker Iso Salvador Iriarte strongly encouraged people to produce and eat local foods, pointing out that despite people's thinking that ice cream is good for the sick, he knows that it can make a person sick. Elementary students Consuela Abraham from Saladak, and Janice Kapriel from Seinwar, read their winning essays and winning art entries were displayed, from Headstart to 8th Grade. The Cooking Competition section was a flurry of activities, with 12 participants and 20 entries. The COM-FSM Pohnpei Campus Hotel Restaurant Management students made a sweep of prizes in the restaurant category, displaying beautifully presented Pandanus Muffin Delights, Taiwang Banana Bread, Karat Banana Sorbet, and Mangrove Crab Swamp Taro Volcanoes. Pelihda Walter, Yunis Hedgar, Delse Ernest, and Merlain Abraham won 1st Prizes respectively in the Karat, Taiwang, Giant Swamp Taro, and Local Food Open categories. Funding support was provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United Nations Children's Fund, Sight and Life, Australian Embassy, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Pacific Agricultural Plant Genetic Resources Network, and the Pacific German Regional Forestry Program. * 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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