PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 3:40 PM by Luigi

Strategies for the augmentation of food activities in Pohnpei

More from Lois Englberger: I would like to share with you of the report by Dr Richard Beyer, food technologist, entitled "Strategies for the augmentation of food activities in Pohnpei." This covers his work here in Pohnpei in November 2004 and the different workshops that he facilitated. Below is the Executive Summary. The report indicates that there is great untapped potential in small-scale food processing of Pohnpei food crops.

Executive Summary

Cultivation, consumption and processing of locally grown fruits, nuts, starchy staples and vegetables in Pohnpei fall well below potential which has resulted in excessive dependence on imported processed foods. The Island Food Community of Pohnpei has been in the vanguard of increasing public awareness of the nutritional benefits of local produce particularly varieties of bananas and other staples high in micronutrients. These programmes and the synergy from Pohnpei Agriculture through the model farm and the extension services have made significant inroads into the inertia in the horticulture sector.

As part of a multilateral approach to augmenting food-related activity, the Island Food Community has sponsored a programme of food processing specifically directed toward village level entrepreneurs. A series of workshops has been conducted in Pohnpei the subjects of which were the preservation of local foods to generate income and to improve food choice. Participants have produced approximately 20 preserved products and the formulations have been rationalised and reported here.

However, this is a project that should not be left in isolation. The recommendations of the participants inter alia have included a request for further, on-going support. Presupposing that these workshops stimulate continuing activity among participants, a model for a general purpose food processing centre has been suggested because it is a concept that has been adopted in Vanuatu and is being implemented in Kiribati. Using such a facility, food producers can lease time in a well-equipped facility and they can receive advanced instruction in food processing, hygiene and product development. The facility does not preclude village-based processing since access is available to all practitioners. A major advantage is that partial processing can be devolved to rural areas but with modern techniques and facilities brings Pohnpei’s food products within the realm of export market – a long term goal but coveted because new money is added to the economy.

Such a facility is a major undertaking and an assessment of the feasibility of such a facility falls outside the ToRs of this current intervention. However this feasibility study was recommended by workshop participants and may add further sustainability to the first steps in food processing that were taken and reported here.

It is the immediate aim that the consumption of local foods – particularly those high in micronutrients – is encouraged through education and promotional campaigns including major undertakings such as the World Food Day Exposé. The series of workshops and public awareness campaigns which formed the major thrust of this mission are part of that effort by offering alternatives to imported equivalent products. In addition an integrated farm, processing and marketing operation will be the fountainhead of increased employment particularly among rural and disadvantaged groups.



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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	Sunday, January 30, 2005 Posted 3:40 PM by Luigi Strategies for the augmentation of food activities in Pohnpei More from Lois Englberger: I would like to share with you of the report by Dr Richard Beyer, food technologist, entitled "Strategies for the augmentation of food activities in Pohnpei." This covers his work here in Pohnpei in November 2004 and the different workshops that he facilitated. Below is the Executive Summary. The report indicates that there is great untapped potential in small-scale food processing of Pohnpei food crops. Executive Summary Cultivation, consumption and processing of locally grown fruits, nuts, starchy staples and vegetables in Pohnpei fall well below potential which has resulted in excessive dependence on imported processed foods. The Island Food Community of Pohnpei has been in the vanguard of increasing public awareness of the nutritional benefits of local produce particularly varieties of bananas and other staples high in micronutrients. These programmes and the synergy from Pohnpei Agriculture through the model farm and the extension services have made significant inroads into the inertia in the horticulture sector. As part of a multilateral approach to augmenting food-related activity, the Island Food Community has sponsored a programme of food processing specifically directed toward village level entrepreneurs. A series of workshops has been conducted in Pohnpei the subjects of which were the preservation of local foods to generate income and to improve food choice. Participants have produced approximately 20 preserved products and the formulations have been rationalised and reported here. However, this is a project that should not be left in isolation. The recommendations of the participants inter alia have included a request for further, on-going support. Presupposing that these workshops stimulate continuing activity among participants, a model for a general purpose food processing centre has been suggested because it is a concept that has been adopted in Vanuatu and is being implemented in Kiribati. Using such a facility, food producers can lease time in a well-equipped facility and they can receive advanced instruction in food processing, hygiene and product development. The facility does not preclude village-based processing since access is available to all practitioners. A major advantage is that partial processing can be devolved to rural areas but with modern techniques and facilities brings Pohnpei’s food products within the realm of export market – a long term goal but coveted because new money is added to the economy. Such a facility is a major undertaking and an assessment of the feasibility of such a facility falls outside the ToRs of this current intervention. However this feasibility study was recommended by workshop participants and may add further sustainability to the first steps in food processing that were taken and reported here. It is the immediate aim that the consumption of local foods – particularly those high in micronutrients – is encouraged through education and promotional campaigns including major undertakings such as the World Food Day Exposé. The series of workshops and public awareness campaigns which formed the major thrust of this mission are part of that effort by offering alternatives to imported equivalent products. In addition an integrated farm, processing and marketing operation will be the fountainhead of increased employment particularly among rural and disadvantaged groups. * 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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