PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 8:56 PM by Tevita

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)

From: FAO (Courtesy of Robin Hide)

In 2002 FAO initiated a wide programme on conservation and adaptive management of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage systems (GIAHS) aiming to establish the basis for the global recognition, conservation and sustainable management of such systems and their associated landscapes, biodiversity, knowledge systems and cultures.During the preparatory phase (2002-2006), the GIAHS initiative has identified pilot sites in Peru, Chile, China, the Philippines, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria. For the next seven years (2007-2014), the pilot systems will implement dynamic conservation management approaches aimed at helping the national and local stakeholders to protect and sustainably conserve the systems and their components.

While there is nothing in the Pacific in the initial phase, if you checkout the sidebar on the website:Other Systems, and then Island Countries, it leads to the following :

Pacific Islands Taro Based Homegardens (Vanuatu)

Pacific Island countries have traditional agricultural production systems that provide major food resources, and resilience to the small economies in times of external economic shocks or natural disasters (cyclones). Vanuatu is a relatively large Melanesian island country (besides Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia), and is a high, hot and wet tropical island experiencing SE trade winds. It is the most cyclone-prone island in the world, and is dominated by low forest and thicket bush vegetation. Most of the population is concentrated in two major towns, and 75% practice subsistence agriculture. It has rich lands suitable for crops and pastures, even though it is deficient in potassium, copper and zinc, and low in phosphorus. Vanuatu has a high population growth rate, a low HDI, low income, low literacy, and low life-expectancy. There is no proper valuation of the contribution of subsistence agriculture to the economy, even though Vanuatu is the most dependent among the large Melanesian islands on agriculture. Its vibrant cultural traditions ensure subsistence production and high food security. Severe market constraints (high shipping costs, lack of middle-men) make export development unrealistic. Nevertheless, some agricultural exports have been developed mainly tree crops (coconut, cocoa, and coffee), livestock, spices (pepper, vanilla) and indigenous nuts (nangai or Canarium, navele or Barringtonia). Multiple cropping in traditional gardens promotes food self-sufficiency: Sweet potato (Ipomea batatas), taro (Colocasia esculenta), yam (Dioscorea spp.), manioc or cassava (Manihot esculenta.), Fiji taro (Xanthosoma sagittofolium), breadfruit, and rice. Rich varieties of taro and yam are integrated into gardens and adjusted for disaster mitigation and self-sufficiency. Dryland and irrigated taro are cultivated. Other crops cultivated in traditional gardens include sugarcane, island cabbage (Hibiscus esculenta), naviso, pineapple, pawpaw, banana, water melon, tomato, Chinese cabbage, and kava. Root crops generate household income. Homegardens vary in size per household (0.04-0.25 ha), most being small. Some traditional staples like taro and banana provide higher energy per unit weight than others such as breadfruit and yams, but none match exotic staples like rice and manioc.

Goods and Services Provided

Pacific island homegardens produce food crops that provide energy, proteins and nutrients, and moderate the climate. Some tree crop commodities (coconut copra, cocoa) have export value.

Threats and Challenges

Traditional homegardens are threatened by cyclones, and cheap rice imports that could displace indigenous taros and yams. There is a need to assess the threats to maintaining agro-biodiversity in small island economies.

Policy and Development Relevance

There is a need to assess the impact of food import policies on maintaining traditional agro-biodiversity in homegardens in small islands.

Global Importance

Taro based homegardens are widespread throughout the Pacific. Their conservation and sustainable management is essential for risk mitigation and self-sufficiency of the islands.



	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, June 17, 2007 Posted 8:56 PM by Tevita Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) From: FAO (Courtesy of Robin Hide) In 2002 FAO initiated a wide programme on conservation and adaptive management of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage systems (GIAHS) aiming to establish the basis for the global recognition, conservation and sustainable management of such systems and their associated landscapes, biodiversity, knowledge systems and cultures.During the preparatory phase (2002-2006), the GIAHS initiative has identified pilot sites in Peru, Chile, China, the Philippines, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria. For the next seven years (2007-2014), the pilot systems will implement dynamic conservation management approaches aimed at helping the national and local stakeholders to protect and sustainably conserve the systems and their components. While there is nothing in the Pacific in the initial phase, if you checkout the sidebar on the website:Other Systems, and then Island Countries, it leads to the following : Pacific Islands Taro Based Homegardens (Vanuatu) Pacific Island countries have traditional agricultural production systems that provide major food resources, and resilience to the small economies in times of external economic shocks or natural disasters (cyclones). Vanuatu is a relatively large Melanesian island country (besides Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia), and is a high, hot and wet tropical island experiencing SE trade winds. It is the most cyclone-prone island in the world, and is dominated by low forest and thicket bush vegetation. Most of the population is concentrated in two major towns, and 75% practice subsistence agriculture. It has rich lands suitable for crops and pastures, even though it is deficient in potassium, copper and zinc, and low in phosphorus. Vanuatu has a high population growth rate, a low HDI, low income, low literacy, and low life-expectancy. There is no proper valuation of the contribution of subsistence agriculture to the economy, even though Vanuatu is the most dependent among the large Melanesian islands on agriculture. Its vibrant cultural traditions ensure subsistence production and high food security. Severe market constraints (high shipping costs, lack of middle-men) make export development unrealistic. Nevertheless, some agricultural exports have been developed mainly tree crops (coconut, cocoa, and coffee), livestock, spices (pepper, vanilla) and indigenous nuts (nangai or Canarium, navele or Barringtonia). Multiple cropping in traditional gardens promotes food self-sufficiency: Sweet potato (Ipomea batatas), taro (Colocasia esculenta), yam (Dioscorea spp.), manioc or cassava (Manihot esculenta.), Fiji taro (Xanthosoma sagittofolium), breadfruit, and rice. Rich varieties of taro and yam are integrated into gardens and adjusted for disaster mitigation and self-sufficiency. Dryland and irrigated taro are cultivated. Other crops cultivated in traditional gardens include sugarcane, island cabbage (Hibiscus esculenta), naviso, pineapple, pawpaw, banana, water melon, tomato, Chinese cabbage, and kava. Root crops generate household income. Homegardens vary in size per household (0.04-0.25 ha), most being small. Some traditional staples like taro and banana provide higher energy per unit weight than others such as breadfruit and yams, but none match exotic staples like rice and manioc. Goods and Services Provided Pacific island homegardens produce food crops that provide energy, proteins and nutrients, and moderate the climate. Some tree crop commodities (coconut copra, cocoa) have export value. Threats and Challenges Traditional homegardens are threatened by cyclones, and cheap rice imports that could displace indigenous taros and yams. There is a need to assess the threats to maintaining agro-biodiversity in small island economies. Policy and Development Relevance There is a need to assess the impact of food import policies on maintaining traditional agro-biodiversity in homegardens in small islands. Global Importance Taro based homegardens are widespread throughout the Pacific. Their conservation and sustainable management is essential for risk mitigation and self-sufficiency of the islands. * 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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