PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 5:31 PM by Luigi

Pacifika improved and integrated farming systems
Income generation and a better environment from enriched and stabilised mixed crop farming

A Policy Briefing for Governments and Development Agencies in the Pacific Region: An output from a regional agroforestry workshop on ensuring food security and better livelihoods for Pacific people

The Problem - Because of increasing pressures for land in most Pacific island countries, shifting agriculture is no longer a sustainable form of land use. The needs of farmers have changed and shifting cultivation no longer meets the needs of farmers for food security and income generation. Most importantly, the shortened fallow periods no longer restore soil fertility and shifting agriculture is now damaging the environment.

The Facts - Traditional mixed cropping systems have many advantages. The benefits include:

Diversity provides resilience and risk aversion from environmental and market failures
Low input expenditures maximize economic returns
Ecosystem services are protected and harnessed to maximize nutrient and water use efficiency, as well as to sustain the natural food chains and life cycles that regulate pests and diseases
The integrated mixture of traditional food crops with tree crops in a permanent and profitable production system (agroforest)
Opportunities for a diverse ‘portfolio’ of natural resource investments in a mixture of crops meeting domestic and market needs
Opportunities for inclusion of speciality crops for ‘niche’ markets as well as the staple foods
Perennial crops, especially trees for timber and indigenous fruits and nuts (‘Agroforestry Tree Products’), provide a ‘bank account’ for the next generation
Suitable for marginal land and protection of hillsides and water catchments
Close affinity with culture and existing lifestyles while allowing economic advancement and enhanced livelihoods

What are Pacifika Improved and Integrated Farming Systems? - This name was accepted at a regional workshop at IRETA, USP, Alafua, Samoa in September 2005 to describe the range of mixed cropping systems found in the Pacific islands that enhance sustainability and ecological stability by including a mixture of trees and other crops. This enrichment of traditional crops with trees improves overall profitability, maximizes productivity, creates opportunities for innovation and maximises environmental services. Thus this form of mixed cropping provides a landuse that combines traditional approaches to farming with modern agroforestry science as an alternative to shifting agriculture.

Recommendation - Adopt this Action-Oriented Agenda

Participatory approaches to determine and serve the needs of farmers and other stakeholders
Market research to identify new commercial opportunities, especially for indigenous plants
producing marketable products (fruits, nuts, extractives, medicinals, timber, etc.)
Landuse planning needs to include Pacifika IIFS
Research on the integration of trees and crops, building on worldwide knowledge
Research on domestication of novel tree crops
Farmer training and the establishment of NGO support
Extension and dissemination of outputs of former research and development projects
Awareness building in rural communities about Pacifika IIFS
Development and protection of data and databases on soils
Improvement and enforcement of landuse policies
Private sector involvement in rural development
Multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional projects
Ministerial ownership of multi-sector initiatives

For further information

Mohammed Umar, Director, IRETA, The University of the South Pacific (USP), Alafua Campus, Private Mail Bag, pia, Samoa; Tel: +685 22 372; Fax: +685 22 347; E-mail: umar_m@samoa.usp.ac.fj
Rger Leakey, Agroforestry and Novel Crops Unit, School of Tropical Biology, James Cook Univesity, Cairns, Qld, ustralia; Tel: +61 7 4042 1573; Fax: +61 7 4042 1319; E-mail: Roger.Leakey@jcu.edu.au
Caig Elevitch, Agroforestry Net, PO Box 428, Holualoa, Hawaii 96725, USA; Tel: +1 808 324 4427; Fax: +1 808 324 4129; E-mail: cre@agroforestry.org

Support from: CTA, IRETA, GTZ, SPC, Agroforestry.net, James Cook University

Get the pdf of this document at http://www.agroforestry.net/pubs/PIIFS_Policy_Briefing.pdf.



	A blog maintained by Tevita Kete, PGR Officer Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji Islands
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. Box 1828 Boroko National Capital District Papua New Guinea Tel: (675) 3235511 Fax: (675) 3234733 Email: kambuou@global.net.pg Ms Laisene Samuelu Principal Crop Development Officer Crops Division Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries & Meteorology P.O. Box 1874 Apia Samoa Tel: (685) 23416-20605 Fax: (685) 20607-23996 Email: lsamuelu@lesamoa.net Mr Jimi Saelea Director of Research Department of Agriculture and Livestock P.O. Box G13 Honiara Guadalcanal Solomon Islands Tel: (677) 27987 Mr Tony Jansen Planting Materials Network Kastom Gaden Association Burns Creek, Honiara P.O. Box 742 Honiara Solomon Islands Tel: (677) 39551 Email: kastomgaden@solomon.com.sb Mr Finao Pole Head of Research Ministry of Agriculture & Forests P.O. Box 14 Nuku'alofa Tonga Tel: (676) 23038 Fax: (676) 24271 Email: thaangana@hotmail.com Mr Frazer Bule Lehi Head of Research Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Private Mail Bag 040 Port Vila Vanuatu Tel: (678) 22525 Fax: (678) 25265 Email: flehi@hotmail.com Other links Other CROP agencies Forum Secretariat University of the South Pacific SPREP Pacific biodiversity Biodiversity hotspots Breadfruit Institute Hawaiian native plants Intellectual property rights Nature Conservancy PBIF PestNet SIDS WWF South Pacific Program Other Pacific organizations Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific Micronesian Seminar Te Puna web directory Pacific news Cafe Pacific CocoNET Wireless Island Directory Pacific Islands News Pacific Islands Report Pacific Islands Travel Pacific Time South Pacific travel Time Pacific Interested in GIS? DIVA-GIS	Sunday, December 04, 2005 Posted 5:31 PM by Luigi Pacifika improved and integrated farming systems Income generation and a better environment from enriched and stabilised mixed crop farming A Policy Briefing for Governments and Development Agencies in the Pacific Region: An output from a regional agroforestry workshop on ensuring food security and better livelihoods for Pacific people The Problem - Because of increasing pressures for land in most Pacific island countries, shifting agriculture is no longer a sustainable form of land use. The needs of farmers have changed and shifting cultivation no longer meets the needs of farmers for food security and income generation. Most importantly, the shortened fallow periods no longer restore soil fertility and shifting agriculture is now damaging the environment. The Facts - Traditional mixed cropping systems have many advantages. The benefits include: Diversity provides resilience and risk aversion from environmental and market failures Low input expenditures maximize economic returns Ecosystem services are protected and harnessed to maximize nutrient and water use efficiency, as well as to sustain the natural food chains and life cycles that regulate pests and diseases The integrated mixture of traditional food crops with tree crops in a permanent and profitable production system (agroforest) Opportunities for a diverse ‘portfolio’ of natural resource investments in a mixture of crops meeting domestic and market needs Opportunities for inclusion of speciality crops for ‘niche’ markets as well as the staple foods Perennial crops, especially trees for timber and indigenous fruits and nuts (‘Agroforestry Tree Products’), provide a ‘bank account’ for the next generation Suitable for marginal land and protection of hillsides and water catchments Close affinity with culture and existing lifestyles while allowing economic advancement and enhanced livelihoods What are Pacifika Improved and Integrated Farming Systems? - This name was accepted at a regional workshop at IRETA, USP, Alafua, Samoa in September 2005 to describe the range of mixed cropping systems found in the Pacific islands that enhance sustainability and ecological stability by including a mixture of trees and other crops. This enrichment of traditional crops with trees improves overall profitability, maximizes productivity, creates opportunities for innovation and maximises environmental services. Thus this form of mixed cropping provides a landuse that combines traditional approaches to farming with modern agroforestry science as an alternative to shifting agriculture. Recommendation - Adopt this Action-Oriented Agenda Participatory approaches to determine and serve the needs of farmers and other stakeholders Market research to identify new commercial opportunities, especially for indigenous plants producing marketable products (fruits, nuts, extractives, medicinals, timber, etc.) Landuse planning needs to include Pacifika IIFS Research on the integration of trees and crops, building on worldwide knowledge Research on domestication of novel tree crops Farmer training and the establishment of NGO support Extension and dissemination of outputs of former research and development projects Awareness building in rural communities about Pacifika IIFS Development and protection of data and databases on soils Improvement and enforcement of landuse policies Private sector involvement in rural development Multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional projects Ministerial ownership of multi-sector initiatives For further information Mohammed Umar, Director, IRETA, The University of the South Pacific (USP), Alafua Campus, Private Mail Bag, pia, Samoa; Tel: +685 22 372; Fax: +685 22 347; E-mail: umar_m@samoa.usp.ac.fj Rger Leakey, Agroforestry and Novel Crops Unit, School of Tropical Biology, James Cook Univesity, Cairns, Qld, ustralia; Tel: +61 7 4042 1573; Fax: +61 7 4042 1319; E-mail: Roger.Leakey@jcu.edu.au Caig Elevitch, Agroforestry Net, PO Box 428, Holualoa, Hawaii 96725, USA; Tel: +1 808 324 4427; Fax: +1 808 324 4129; E-mail: cre@agroforestry.org Support from: CTA, IRETA, GTZ, SPC, Agroforestry.net, James Cook University Get the pdf of this document at http://www.agroforestry.net/pubs/PIIFS_Policy_Briefing.pdf. * 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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