EU-Funded Project Helps Outer Island Farmers in Marshalls
Marshall Islands' outer island farmers are getting help in identifying agricultural problems and receiving training in production methods to enable successful implementation of sustainable agriculture.
"Development of Sustainable Agriculture in Pacific (DSAP)", a project funded by the European Union and coordinated from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), provides on-site training and consultation with rural communities. DSAP's mission is to help farmers improve food production thereby enhancing food security and income generation in the Pacific.
The DSAP project in the Marshall Islands was initiated this past year, although the region-wide program has been working with farmers in the South Pacific region since 2003.
Majuro resident Russell Langrine, as the Graduate Research & Extension Assistant (GREA), is in-charge of implementing the Marshalls' project which operates under the Republic of the Marshall Islands' Ministry of Resource and Development (RMIMRD).
Early in 2006, the National Steering Committee formed this year's work plan and selected three outer island sites: Namdrik Atoll, Ailuk Atoll and Namu Atoll.
Recently, the MRD arranged for visits to Namdrik and Ailuk Atolls where DSAP team members talked with community members and conducted hands-on training sessions. While on Namdrik, the team provided training on home gardening with eighth grade students and lessons about agricultural related studies. On Ailuk, they held sessions on compost training and planting for both "young and old" farmers.
DSAP initiatives for outer island sites include setting up nurseries and gene banks, organizing school and home gardening competitions, and introducing bucket irrigation. Provision of improved planting materials to farmers such sweet potato, taro, pandanus, breadfruit, yam, and vegetables is planned.
At the heart of the program is the Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRA) which combines consultations with farmers and local stakeholders to identify problems unique to each atoll and provide improved agricultural production techniques.
Mereseini Seniloli, DSAP Participatory Extension Officer, conducted PRA training in Majuro. Attending the training with National Agricultural Research and Extension System (NARES) personnel were representatives from the MRD, Tobolar Copra Plant, College of Marshall Islands Land Grant Program, US Forest Service and Majuro Atoll Local Government.
According to the latest DSAP bulletin, several projects have also been initiated in Laura, a village about 30 miles from the district center of the atoll. Laura High School Agriculture Club has been formed to expose high school students to Agriculture studies and training. GREA Langrine is the Advisor for the club which has a membership of 36 boys and girls.
DSAP Marshall Islands has started a demonstration farm in Laura for DSAP to introduce new farming technology such as the bucket irrigation system.
Last November, at a regional extension summit, RMI's Secretary of Agriculture Fred Muller chaired the session "Lessons Learnt from Extension Models in the Region." DSAP participants have found that the key component of the DSAP program, farmer-led participation, pays off.
"Involving the people in diagnosing their problems, identifying solutions to their problems, in the planning of interventions to their livelihoods, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of the interventions is a first step towards sustainable livelihood."
- by Aenet Rowa, Yokwe Online, July 7, 2006
