Project GCCA conclude all activities for Funafuti

Sandalwood plant with host plant "Portulaca oleraca"

GCCA has played a major role in fulfilling its objectives to assist the Funafuti communities. Last few days held a training to demonstrate intensive agricultural production on under-utilized land, while diversifying crop varieties available nationally, and it was the last activity for the project for the Funafuti community. During the training, the participant had the chance to plant the first ever sandalwood seedlings provide by SPC, co funded under project GCCA. The participant make history in farming sandalwood as they are the first ever farmers to plant sandalwood in Tuvalu grounds

Left is Nukufetau Island project which is very unfortunate for the project to go there due to transportation of heavy duty machinery by boat, whereas Tuvalu Maritime are so anxious for the safety of the machines on board vessels if loaded for transportation from Funafuti to Nukufetau. All tools, machines and implements to Nukufetau are on the warehouse in Funafuti awaiting transportation to Nukufetau to launch the project. The Technical Assistant of the project is also worried that the project might run out of time and the work in Nukufetau has not started yet. The Department of Agriculture also assist the project by funding maintenance and future development of the project and prioritize its co-existence with other development of the Departments

At the meantime, GCCA field workers are now involving maintenance and monitoring of the nursery and two agroforestry sites in Funafuti. They will look after the welfare of the crops planted on the two sites and the growth development of seedlings in the nursery. Despite all odds, the GCCA team will not give up yet but will try to fulfil what can be done before conclusion of the project GCCA in December

Project Update fro GCCA PSIS Agroforestry project in Tuvalu

Project Global Climate Change Alliance Pacific Small Island States (GCCA PSIS) is an EU funded Agroforestry Project and was executed by the Secretary of the Pacific Community SPC.

In its recent development in Tuvalu, GCCA PSIS project had achieved some of its objective despite delayed of work materials to arrive into the country. Since last year, April 2014, the project was handed over from the Environment Department to be implemented by the Department of Agriculture. Thus far, a nursery was established, a project plot was cited and heavy machinery were imported considering the execution of the objectives outline in the Project Design Document PDD. Furthermore, the project also held training's for farmers, landowners, women and youth associations in order to better themselves in agroforestry management and machinery operation. Most of the project objectives were created to execute the priorities mentioned in the Te Kakeega II. Below are the priorities mentioned in the National Strategy for Sustainable Development (NSSD) Te Kakeega II.

Excavator provide by GCCA PSIS Agroforestry project

1.      Improve and expand agricultural extension services.

2.      Create more opportunities to educate and train agriculturalists.

3.      Expand availability of basic agricultural tools and equipment.

4.      Assist private entrepreneurs to produce and market local produce.

5.      Assist with access to land and credit.

6.      Incorporate more agricultural subjects into school curricula.

Tractor provide by GCCA PSIS Argoforestry project

From the above priorities, priority 1 and 4 was selected to create the Key Result Areas in the Project objectives. Below are the Key Result Areas of the project. Therefore, The GCCA: PSIS project is implemented by SPC as part of its ‘whole of organization approach’ and is one of the activities contributing to the SPC Climate Change Engagement Strategy. The four key result areas (KRA) of the GCCA: PSIS project are:

Few crops grown for Nukufetau GCCA PSIS Agroforestry project

National Level Key Result Areas

·               KRA 1: Supporting national efforts to successfully mainstream climate change into national and sector response strategies.

·               KRA 2: Identifying, designing and supporting the implementation of adaptation activities.

Regional Level Key Result Areas

·               KRA 3: Enhancing the contribution of regional organisations to national adaptation responses.

·               KRA 4: Building regional capacity to coordinate the delivery of streamlined adaptation finance and targeted technical assistance to countries.

Project GCCA PSIS Agroforestry in Tuvalu is on its final financial stage. Completing in December 2015, the Implementing Department is undergo the final workloads to fulfill the project objective before its completion in December 2015.

Global Climate Chnage Alliance / Pacific Small Island States (GCCA PSIS) Project in Tuvalu

A very healthy forest

The purpose of the project is the “Improving Agro-forestry systems to enhance Food Security and Build Resilience to Climate Change in Tuvalu”

 

Site cleaning

Site Cleaning Completed

Few tree crops in the nursery

The first site in Funafuti was established in May 2014 from a site used by the Banana Project which is now completed these past few years. Through the years, the NAPA project used the site as a nursery for their “plant resilient to climate change” plantlets. The site was excavated and fence was put up in recommendation of the GCCA project objectives and to secure the NAPA plantlet from theft. The GCCA boys managed to complete 1 week for the fence post to be positioned and another week for stretching the fence wire and cleaning of the project site.Throughout the two busy weeks, the project technical officer travel to the northern islands to collect tree crops for nursery here on the first project site. The reason for nursing these tree crops so that the cuttings can be distributed amongst the communities for replanting, thus securing Food Security purpose in the country. These tree crops include Pandanus cuttings, Breadfruit and Wild Figs cuttings. On the site, there are two types of crops to be nurse, tree crops and senile trees for coast line guard

Few trees for coastline protection

Concerning other influence of climate change, many areas in Funafuti are vulnerable to the effects of climate change especially the coast line, and that will be another priority for this project. An affected site closed to the Pacific Energy Plant needed to plant trees on the coast line to help prevent soil runoff and to protect coast line against soil erosion. Trees including “Cordia Subcordata”, wild senile Pandanus trees, “barringtonia asiatica”, “Topurnefortia argentea”, “Callophyllum inophyllum”, “Scaevola traccada” and other senile tree will be the answer to help guard the coast line from the effects of sea currents.

Earnings from the Rocks

The Taiwan Farm has promoted subsistence farming to fellow interested farmers on the capital and motivates them to compete in various competitions in growing vegetable crops to attain better health status. In their other development, they have succeeded in growing many types of vegetable crops and sell it to the public. This result in the improvement of the natives’ dietary health status

Beginning from a few years back, the Department in collaboration with the Taiwan Embassy in Funafuti setup a farm naming the “Te Taugasoa Fiafia Farm” meaning Happy Friendly Farm. From there, the eyes of the people were upon this farm development and most of the time there are new visitors to the farm in curiosity of the Taiwan expert and his willing to grow crops.

The site is a very rocky area where all the Pigpens are located. All the Pigpens were re-allocated to newly build pens which were financially assisted by the Taiwan Embassy. The extension of the Farm went swiftly due to the financial assistance from the Taiwan Embassy, and labour service from the Departments. Not so long after that, the weeding of the area begins after the excavation, and later on, the planting begins. It takes about 2 whole years for the excavation and the weeding to complete before growing takes place.

Many crops were grown in the “Te Taugasoa Fiafia Farm”, but the boundary was embedded with flower plants and pumpkin. This benefits the local very much because the flowers growing on the farm boundary can be used by the people in social occasion for decoration and making garlands., same for the pumpkin, Pig farmers or pass-by can pollinate and harvest for food security purpose. This promotes the peoples food security and their livelihoods.

All the crops on the farm will be taking care by irrigation and those are the crops that consider to be selling to the public. Every Friday, in good or bad weather, people will line up on the Farm gate waiting to buy vegetable crops from the Farm. This brings in revenue to the Department and food security secureness to the people of Tuvalu

Merging Information for Strategy Planning

FAO in collaboration with the Department arranged a workshop for the Department and its stakeholders in planning strategies for the Department for the next 10 years, 2014 – 2023. The 3 day workshop was funded by FAO and was consulted by two FAO officers; one is from the FAO office in Suva, the other is a local consultant.

The main goal of the workshop is to create strategies and developing models to enhance food security purposes and to attain and sustain the livelihoods and dietary health of the indigenous in rural and urban level. Involve in the workshop are officers from various departments, local farmers and representatives from the private sector, which in turn play vital roles in sharing ideas and information during the workshop

The Department in its development have few powers and resources to achieve its key policies objectives in the Te Kakeega II, but should have to explore the possibility of creating a network for coordinating and harmonizing initiatives on achieving its key policies through agreements or memoranda of understanding.

Concerning the Departments Priorities and Strategies according to the Te Kakeega II, “The development of agriculture in Tuvalu must confront many fundamental issues and challenges. Among them poor soils and growing conditions, small land areas, few comparative advantages, decline outer island populations, increasing urbanisation, declining interest in traditional agriculture practices, distance to export markets, and poor local market access for those who do wish to produce cash crops. Nonetheless, there is still considerable scope for increasing production for local consumption and reversing recent production declines. Key challenges will be to revitalise and expand agriculture extension services, encourage people to once again turn to local rather than imported foods for better nutrition health, and improve transport and marketing of local produce.” (GOVERNMENT, 2005)

In order to achieve the mentioned challenges, the Department to my own extent must have the ability to identify its key players and to have better reporting which I recommend the Mobile Phone Reporting to communicate amongst stakeholders. Since there have been mobile development in Tuvalu, to link the farmers together with the market, extension officers and the Department, the setup of this Mobile Phone Reporting might be another way to execute the priorities and strategies for Tuvalu until 2023. The department must promote this phone reporting and prioritize it because it can contribute in the long run for the next 10 years.

Priority Achievement

Agro Vegetable Competition

Various activities were established by the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the Taiwan Farm to improve the capacity building of farmers in Tuvalu. One activity to draw farmer’s intention is a competition which also involves anyone who is willing to participate.It was initiate for farmers to compete in a Planting Agriculture Vegetables as a mean of communication amongst themselves about planting techniques, using of fertilizers (their important and their disadvantages), and how this competition provide  good food security and nutrition to improve their livelihoods

Mrs. Akinesi Sianoa, a senior staff of the Department statesthat previous competition were held and was focusing on growing various vegetables such as Watermelon, Tomato, Capsicum, Beans, and other available vegies seeds from the Taiwan Aid. But this competition will be focusing only to Watermelon. The winner will only be judged on two conditions, which is; if only his/her Watermelon weights the heaviest, and that it is the best Watermelon, concerning its size and its appearance. The competition procedure was discussed on a half day meeting with the participants in whom Mrs. Sianoa and the Taiwan expert elaborate more on the competition procedures. The farmers were motivated during the half day meeting

All the seedlings were planted on the same time in the Taiwan Demonstration Farm, and were distributed to participants. Meanwhile, farmers were advised to hold their planting and listen to the radio for the announcement about the starting date of the competition. There is no bias in the competition because the seedlings were planted on the same time and was handed to farmers in pots which can be planted in beds on a 5 day period.

The prizes were given by the Taiwan Consulate to Tuvalu, and included in it are farming tools and cash Prizes that can be of very good assistant to the winners in their Agriculture Developments after the competition. This competition was implemented for food security purposes and improvement of the participant’s livelihoods. Thus the competition brings motivation to farmers who haven’t been participated

Priority Achievement

Tissue Culture

SPC in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture have an understanding to import Tissue Culture of mostly crops that are non-vulnerable to climate change. The idea was to promote food security issues

Include in the Importing of these Tissue Culture are Potato, Cassava, Giant Taro and “Dalo ni Tana”, Pulaka and Banana Culture. It was targeted the interested farmers that want to raise these types of variety in their farm/garden. The tissue culture has been in the care of a senior official of the Department, Mr. Fialua Monise

When at first, the first tissue culture arrive into the country contains only Banana culture on the first phase of the Banana Project. Currently, the officer in charge is still awaiting a respond from his request to extend the project timeframe. At the moment, National Adaptation Program of Action project in Tuvalu (NAPA) seems to be interested in this tissue culture project which makes them import more tissue culture with different varieties from SPC. Meanwhile, SPC send the tissue culture and an officer to demonstrate the tissue extraction from culture to polythene bags before transplanting into beds

There is a surprise from a farmer who lodge a report about a banana corm he extracted from a friend. He replanted this corm and to his surprise, the corm was split into two. He was curious about what happened where he reported it to Agriculture Extension Official for awareness. He suggest further that he will get two yield on a time of harvest if this banana tree successfully grown into a mature tree

Considering food security issues, this Tissue Culture program might promote good food security secureness and can assist locals in times of drought and cyclone seasons. The program also have many blessing from the locals as it seem to help promote their livelihoods