“Samoa Biofuel Study Report
February 2009”
The most suitable biofuel crop under the agro-ecological conditions of Samoa was
determined. Secondary and primary data on the status of the agricultural sector of Samoa,
and its soil and climate and socio-economic conditions were gathered from
Agrometeorological Station, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Natural Resources,
Pacific Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement Through Renewable Energy Project, University
of South Pacific, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labor, Food and Agriculture
Organization, and from the farmer’s and business group.
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“The future is here; dialogue for setting the direction for atoll food production, research and development”
The Government of Kiribati through its Ministry of Environment, Land and Agriculture Development (MELAD) hosted the 2010 Atoll Agricultural Conference “The future is here; dialogue for setting the direction for atoll food production, research and development” which brought together representatives of agriculture Ministries from across the Pacific as well as NGO, farmer and private sector stakeholders to discuss the future of atoll agriculture.
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For processing to be sustainable in the long term it must reach profitability. Three elements are necessary for profitability; a continuous and continuing supply of raw material of the correct quality, the technology to affect the changes necessary for market demands, and access to the market. Low levels of production are the constraining factor inhibiting a flourishing food processing sector in Tonga. The traumatic decline in fresh
squash exports and the associated financial losses have created trepidation among farmers.
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A Value Chain Approach
The primary purpose of this study is to use a value chain approach with a view to supporting the utilisation of the High Temperature Forced Air facility in expanding the export of fresh fruits and vegetables from Tonga to New Zealand.
This study identifies the key chains and interrelated activities starting from the production of the produce along to the market and the ultimate consumers, to allow examination and analysis of the constraints and issues that may hinder the successful utilisation of the HTFA treatment for export, and to provide suggestions as to how to alleviate these constraints and issues.
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The World Bank‘s World Development Report 2008 highlighted ―agriculture for development‖ and gave advice and recommendations for designing and implementing agriculture-for-development agendas. This report was set in the global context with particular emphasis on Africa and Asia. The Pacific 2020 project undertaken in 2005 identified challenges and opportunities for agriculture as a key driver for growth in the Pacific context. The 2020 background study for agriculture identified policy options and made specific policy recommendations, but these were made at a time of rising world commodity and fuel prices and a generally positive global economic growth scenario.
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Over the last 5 years Vanuatu has enjoyed strong economic growth. The excellent overall growth performance has not been matched by commodity exports. If growth is to be more broadly based and sustainable it needs to contain a much larger small holder agricultural component. This study looks at organic cocoa to see how more broadly based and sustainable growth might be achieved through the development of commodity niche markets.
Vanuatu and Samoa have the oldest cocoa industries in the South Pacific. Over the last decade, Vanuatu‟s production has oscillated around 1,000 to 1,200 tonnes. Cocoa exports, as with copra and coconut oil, have shown a downward trend. In 2008, Vanuatu exported 1,058 tonnes of cocoa, for a fob value of 240 million vatu. This represented 6% of Vanuatu‟s total export earnings, lying behind coconut products, beef and kava.
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Key elements of the Solomon Island economy are the pivotal role played by logging, the search for a replacement for logging, the deteriorating foreign reserve cover, the easing of inflation, the unlikely continuation of the relatively high rate of domestic economic growth, and low levels of formal employment.
The overwhelming feature of the agricultural economy of Solomon Islands is the lack of balance in terms of size, natural advantage, expertise, focus of government attention, and commercial involvement.
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Approximately 75% of the Samoan population lives in rural communities with over 130,000 people relying in some measure on the productivity of the agriculture sector. But the sector has performed relatively poorly and has been a constraint on growth for several years. Today larger-scale commercial agriculture is a small component of total agriculture and subsistence agriculture accounts for nearly half of agricultural output. Samoa’s natural resource endowment and remote location mean that it has potential advantages for organic agriculture.
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Despite identified market opportunities, the Pacific island countries (PICs) have not been a part of the global horticulture revolution. Fiji is finally starting to prove an exception to the rule, with horticultural exports becoming a lead growth sector. This coincides with the demise of the Fiji sugar industry and where the diversification of export and rural livelihood opportunities is urgently required if a major calamity is to be avoided.
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FAO has been actively promoting the concept of sustainable intensification of agriculture for many years. The need to reduce risks associated with food production from chemical inputs has never been more important. The pressure to feed an increasing population and access overseas markets is placing increasing pressure on developing countries to intensify agricultural production. Unless this process is sustainable and minimises risk to agricultural workers, the environment and the consumer any benefit will be short term and fail to meet our needs as we look forward.
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An Analytical Study of Selected Fruit and Vegetable Value Chains in Samoa
This study was commissioned to identify and evaluate the relative importance of the key constraints faced by stakeholders involved in the development of representative fruit (papaya and breadfruit) and vegetable (head cabbage and tomatoes) value chains in Samoa. It is intended to serve as a basis for developing implementable activities in support of the Fruit and Vegetable Sector Strategy (FVSS) initiated under the EU funded All ACP Agricultural Commodities Programme (AAACP).
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Island cabbage is indigenous to Southeast Asia, but an ancient introduction to Melanesia and from Fiji to Western Polynesia. It is a very popular green vegetable or spinach in Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga, though still a minor crop and less popular in Samoa and Cook Islands. The plant grows extremely well in the main islands of Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Cook Islands and Tonga. Island Cabbage in all five countries is not known by named varieties, but rather by leaf form and leaf color. It is open pollinated, and there are numerous varieties as noted by varying leaf shapes and colors.
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The Polynesian plum is indigenous to tropical Asia but an ancient introduction to Melanesia, Polynesia and as far as the Marquesas and to the Caroline Islands in Micronesia. The tree is found growing very well in the more tropical islands of Fiji, Vanuatu, and Samoa as well as in the cooler climates of the Cook Islands and Tonga. It is cultivated for its edible fruits and also for its use in native medicine. It is not referred to specifically by varieties but rather as broad categories according to type of tree, fruit shape, fruit sizes and fruit flavor such as Small fruits; Large fruits; Oval fruits; Oblong fruits; Sour/sweet fruits and Dwarf varieties.
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During the first quarter of 2009, FAO commissioned a scoping exercise on opportunities and constraints for bioenergy development in the 14 Pacific Island Countries. The study did not only look at cassava and coconut-based biofuels, which are the two main target crops for biofuel production in the Region, but also evaluate other alternative bioenergy sources. With regards the potential impact of biofuel development on food security, the question is to identify effects on both farmers' income and on rural poor food security.
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This is the report on market survey of seeds; seed quantity demands, quantity supply, source of supply, volume of local production and also, quality and varieties available in Kiribati, Vanuatu and Tonga. The report, prepared at the request of SPC, noted that the constraints of seed supply was common in each country. The report also highlighted some interesting features such seed availability as the most constraint followed accessibility and suitability. In the three countries, there is minimal involvement by governments in the seed supply transactions.
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The Eighth Meeting of the FAO South West Pacific Ministers for Agriculture was convened at the Millennium Hall in Alofi, Niue, from 20 to 22 May 2009. The meeting was attended by Ministers from Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Tonga and Tuvalu. Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Samoa sent delegations to represent the countries. Representatives from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the University of the South Pacific (USP), the Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission (PITIC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) attended as observers.8th MEETING OF FAO SOUTH WEST PACIFIC MINISTERS FOR AGRICULTURE The Eighth Meeting of the FAO South West Pacific Ministers for Agriculture was convened at the Millennium Hall in Alofi, Niue, from 20 to 22 May 2009. The meeting was attended by Ministers from Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Tonga and Tuvalu. Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Samoa sent delegations to represent the countries. Representatives from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the University of the South Pacific (USP), the Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission (PITIC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) attended as observers.
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Food security: agriculture, livestock, and artisanal/subsistence fisheries: The livelihoods’ base for the majority of affected households includes subsistence agriculture, backyard pig and poultry production for self-consumption, and artisanal/subsistence fisheries. In addition to tourism, which was the main source of cash income, these activities represent the main pillars of the family food security strategy.
The main plantations of taro, banana, cassava and other root crops are usually located on higher grounds at a relevant distance from the sea.
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The Regional Group on Food Security and Climate Change was established in October 2008 with the overall goal of assessing and regionalizing the recommendations of the June 2008 High-Level Conference on Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy (HLC). Founded by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Expert Group works to increase understanding of how food security and climate change programmes can be made operational in the Pacific Region.
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The purpose of this report is to provide a brief summary of selected World Food Day (WFD)/TeleFood (TFD) 2008 activities and to illustrate the range and extent of the events implemented to celebrate World Food Day/TeleFood worldwide. A large variety of events inspired by this year’s theme, “World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy”, were carried out by FAO member countries, particularly with the tireless efforts and efficient support of the FAO Representations, as well as by those countries where only focalpoints or a Representative of a UN agency are on site to promote WFD/TFD.
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