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Kosrae Cooperative Extension Service

PCC-CRE assists Typhoon “Bopha” victims cope up with food security problems

NGAREMLENGUI STATE, PALAU. Dr. Aurora G. Del Rosario, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Palau Community College Research and Development Station.

In December 2, 2012, Palau was badly hit by Typhoon “Bopha”.  Most severely affected were the states of Ngaraard, Ngiwal, Melekeok and Ngchesar in East Coast of Babeldaob as well as the outer islands of Peleliu, Angaur and Kayangel.  Big waves brought the sea water and sand inland into the homes along the shoreline and left a lot of damaged houses, schools, roads, and infrastructures.   In some areas, salt water flooded the roads and houses up to 4 to 6 feet at the height of the typhoon.  Salt water also inundated taro patches, damaged the mesei resulting in burned taro plants.  Even tall betel nut trees were severely affected by the salt water coming inland into the islands.  Thus, food supply and food security of the community was endangered.  PCC-CRE extended assistance to the affected communities by assisting them in establishing their farms and gardens as part of relief efforts to victims of Typhoon Bopha.

Salt water damages taro.
Salt water damages taro.

Salt water damage to betel nuts in Peleliu.
Salt water damage to betel nuts in Peleliu.

In January, 9 farms in Ulimang, Ngkeklau and Choll in the state of Ngaraard were plowed and planted with sweet potato, cassava and taro.  In Melekeok, 14 community farms were also plowed and planted with cassava, taro and sweet potato.  In February 5 – 7, 2013, PCC-CRE worked with the Bureau of Agriculture in assisting 81 residents of Peleliu State by plowing backyards, established vegetable gardens and also planted taro and sweet potato.   In March 14 – 16, 2013, PCC-CRE Staff also assisted 48 residents of Angaur State and provided planting materials to establish sweet potato, taro and vegetable gardens. Finally, in March 29-31, 2013, PCC-CRE staff went to Kayangel Island to assist 14 farmers in plowing, and planting sweet potato, cassava and taro.  Vegetable seeds and compost were also distributed to the farmers.  All these efforts were done to ensure food security in the communities in the coming months.

Planting cassava and sweet potato in Ngaraard.
Planting cassava and sweet potato in Ngaraard.

Planting taro and sweet potato in Angaur.
Planting taro and sweet potato in Angaur.

Two books highlight crop protection research in Micronesia

NGAREMLEGUI STATE, PALAU. Dr. Aurora G. Del Rosario, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Palau Community College Research and Development Station.

For the past 20 years, research in Crop Protection proved to be a successful undertaking. Research culminated in the publication of two important books on crop protection.

Economic Entomology of Micronesia
Economic Entomology of Micronesia

The first publication written by Nelson Esguerra and Aurora Del Rosario is a 214-page book entitled “Economic Entomology in Micronesia” published by PCC-CRE and College of Micronesia in 2007. It showcases biological information on 84 major pests of crops in Micronesia which are described and augmented by 369 colored photographs of the damage and different life stages. Students in agricultural science as well as researchers and extension agents will find this book very useful.

Biological Control Introductions in the Freely Associated States of Micronesia
Biological Control Introductions in the Freely Associated States of Micronesia

The second book published by the COM Land Grant Program is entitled “Biological Control Introductions in the Freely Associated States of Micronesia”. It is a 136 –page document which covers the use of good insects to control pests of crops in the Freely Associated States of Micronesia from 1986 to 2009. Primarily, it involved introducing biological control agents in the Republic of Marshall Islands, the four island states of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau. Many of the introduced good insects reduced the target pests to non-damaging levels in these island nations. It also includes some biological control agents that remained in the islands and continuously controlled the pests despite releasing those 10-15 years ago. The authors are Nelson Esguerra, Aurora Del Rosario and Thomas Taro.

Sweet potato and taro multiplication demonstration sites established at three regions in Chuuk

WENO, CHUUK, FSM. Dr. Lolita Ragus, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Chuuk Agricultural Experiment Station.

COM-FSM Chuuk Campus/Cooperative Research and Extension (CRE) distributed eight promising sweet potato and two taro cultivars evaluated from April 2012 to March 2013 for tolerance to drought and salt spray.   Chuuk CRE acknowledged PASAP project for making these materials available for evaluation under coastal and upland environments. Furthermore, SPC CePaCT provided these cultivars to the MPPRC, COM-FSM KAES, which further multiplied them in tissue culture, acclimatized in the greenhouse and provided to the four COM-FSM campuses.  Also, KAES undertook local taro collection, which underwent similar processes as sweet potato. The Australian government funded this project, which was implemented through the joint partnership of the FSM Office of Environment and Emergency Management, COM-FSM CRE and SPC Land Resources Division (North Pacific).

On the other hand, CRE Global Food Security and Hunger and Climate Change programs and PASAP project collaborated in plant distribution and establishment of multiplication sites also serving as demonstration plots in the three Chuuk regions. The Department of Agriculture provided its motorboat and participated in this activity.  Chuuk CRE coordinated with the respective island local governments for island-wide sharing of planting materials and skills gained from training. Likewise, Mortlocks and Northwest regions got their planting materials through Private Sector Grant funded-Agroforestry programs.

Two hundred sixty participants benefitted from this endeavor as detailed below:

  • Faichuk (Romanum-43; Eot- 35; Udot-32; Polle-33)—–143
  • Northern Namoneas (Weno-34; Fono-26)——————- 60
  • Southern Namoneas (Fefen-29; Tonoas-28)—————- 57

Fefen Mayor Serino Tokyo remarked “I will make it sure that these planting materials will go to the villages where our people would share and take advantage of this opportunity”.  Overall, these communities expressed their happiness and thanks for this effort.

Fefen Island Mayor Serino Tokyo (extreme right) led in preparing plots.
Fefen Island Mayor Serino Tokyo (extreme right) led in preparing plots.
Children in Polle Island watched the sweet potato planting demonstration.
Children in Polle Island watched the sweet potato planting demonstration.

 

 

Island Farm – a success story

COLONIA, YAP, FSM.  Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Yap Agricultural Experiment Station.

Island Farm (Aringel village, Dalipebinaw Municipality, Yap) was established by a Bangladeshi immigrant in early 2009 as a vegetable garden for survival. Later, more crops were incorporated with technical assistance and extension support from Yap Agricultural Experiment Station. Over the years Yap AES provided several hands-on trainings on topics ranging from nursery management, nutrient management, pest management, soil preparation and composting. This small farm is now well established and catering local markets with vegetables like Chinese cabbage, eggplant, okra, cucumber, peppers, watermelon, long beans, sweet potato, tomatoes, pumpkins etc.

Impacts achieved
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of its owners, Island Farm showed a remarkable achievement in the last few years of operation. Success (impact) was measured in terms of income generated (cost-benefit ratio) from the farming operations. Client reports a gross sale of over USD 14,000.00 each year. Once a rare commodity, fresh garden produce is now within the reach of every household in Yap.

Owner Nadim Miah shares his views:

Island Farm's owner, Nadim Miah.
Island Farm’s owner, Nadim Miah.

Small farm outreach and technical assistance program for socially disadvantaged Outer Island population in Yap

COLONIA, YAP, FSM.  Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Yap Agricultural Experiment Station.

Ethnic neighboring island communities of Yap and its 14 atoll islets in the Western Pacific are among the most economically disadvantaged and environmentally vulnerable groups in the Federated States of Micronesia. Most climate change models and studies show that climate change effects will be disproportionately borne by these communities. Decreased rainfall and/or rising sea level trigger saltwater intrusion into traditional taro patches, low-lying forestry stands and other ecosystems in the atolls. Environmental and social pressures force communities to migrate to Yap Proper in search of better living conditions. Migrants from the atolls to Yap Proper with dreams of improving their living standards are often confronted by lack of jobs and mainstay, and remain destitute in a challenging environmental setting. This population required a survival strategy that involves growing vegetables, however, volcanic red soils predominant in the settlement pose severe challenges to the community in field cultivation. Since 2005, a comprehensive extension program has been extended to the community in volcanic soil management coupled with vegetable gardening utilizing alternate crop production practices. Despite limited resource settings and challenging soil conditions, these alternate crop production models helped atoll communities to successfully establish family-level vegetable gardens and directly participate in rebuilding their future. The sound soil management practices and alternate crop production models raised self-reliance of the displaced communities and helped to maintain a sustainable food production system. Nutrient-rich vegetables that were once beyond the family food menu of the community, now supplement their traditional diet of root crops and fish (Outreach project was supported by USDA-NIFA (Award #:2006-51200-03594) and USDA-OAO (Award #: 59-2501-10-008).

A collage of household gardens – A Real Homeland Security!
A collage of household gardens – A Real Homeland Security!

Role of biochar in improving the fertility of degraded volcanic soils in Yap

COLONIA, YAP, FSM.  Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Yap Agricultural Experiment Station.

Volcanic red soils in Yap are highly degraded with low soil fertility. Heavy rainfall and warm climate promote uncontrollable erosion and depletion of nutrients through leaching. More stable materials rich in iron and aluminum oxide are left behind which results in soils that is acidic. Such degraded lands lack nutrients and high acidity prevents plants from growing and is, therefore, challenging to farm or grow trees. These soils either sustain forests because of lack of severe topsoil disturbance or are degraded through topsoil removal and then support mostly ferns that are adapted to harsh soil conditions. In order to reclaim such degraded lands, a good crop management program involving identification and correction of nutrient deficiencies and toxicities is required. This will not only help in establishing sustainable agriculture activities in degraded lands but also increase economic returns and reduce risks of environmental pollution. In the present research, the role of biochar as a soil conditioner for sustainable agriculture in degraded volcanic red soils of Yap (GAGIL series) is being studied using field experiments.

About 23.5 percent of Yap Proper has degraded volcanic soils.
About 23.5 percent of Yap Proper has degraded volcanic soils.

Climate-Smart agriculture

COLONIA, YAP, FSM.  Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Yap Agricultural Experiment Station.

There is no one size fits all solution for climate change adaptation in agriculture. Climate change impacts agriculture and food security differently all over the world. Effects vary on different crops and farming systems, therefore a wide range of adaptation options are necessary. Preserving and enhancing food security requires agricultural production systems to change in the direction of higher productivity. Lower output variability in the face of climate risk and risks of an agroecological and socioeconomic nature is also essential. In order to tackle climate change and produce more food to feed the island population, an integrated “climate-smart” approach is needed. Food security and climate change are closely linked and key opportunities exist to transform the sector towards climate-smart systems that address both. Most estimates indicate that climate change is likely to reduce agricultural productivity, production stability and incomes in small islands. Developing climate-smart agriculture is thus crucial to achieving food security. One of our current Hatch Projects attempts to test science-based climate-smart agriculture practices that promote successful adaptation of small island agricultural systems to climate change and ensure food security.

Nutrient depleted soils need climate-smart practices.
Nutrient depleted soils need climate-smart practices.

Palau Community College releases 360,000 mangrove crabs in conservation areas

NGIWAL STATE, PALAU.  Dr. Miguel Delos Santos, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Palau Agricultural Experiment Station.

A total of 350,000 healthy crablets of mangrove crabs locally known as “chemang” were released by the PCC–CRE staffs in two conservation areas in Palau on December 31, 2012 and January 2, 2013. About 150,000 and 200,000 crablets were released near the mangroves of Ngemai Conservation Area in Ngiwal State and the Bkulengriil Conservation Area in Ngeremlengui State, respectively. These 30 to 32 days old crablets were produced at the PCC Multi-species Hatchery in Ngermetengel, Ngeremlengui State. The purpose of this release was to enhance the mangrove crab stock in the mangrove areas and provide a steady supply of this high valued sea food commodity in the Republic of Palau.

Governor Wilson Ongos, CRE- Vice President Thomas Taro and aquaculture staff Irvin Dwight releasing crablets near the mangroves at Bkulengriil Conservation Area in Ngeremlegui State.
Governor Wilson Ongos, CRE- Vice President Thomas Taro and aquaculture staff Irvin Dwight releasing crablets near the mangroves at Bkulengriil Conservation Area in Ngeremlegui State.

These chemang crablets were products of the recently completed hatch funded research project entitled “Seed Production of Mangrove Crabs in the Republic of Palau” which is being implemented by PCC-CRE’s Aquaculture Researcher Miguel Delos Santos. Six units of 10 tons capacity tanks were stocked with a total of 2.4 million mangrove crab larva and after 30 to 32 days of larval rearing, a total of 390,000 crablets were harvested.  The remaining 40,000 crablets were reared at the outdoor nursery tanks at the PCC Hatchery and once the crablets reach about 1 to 2 inches in carapace length these will be distributed to prospective crab farmers in the country.

CRE- Vice President Thomas Taro and aquaculture staff Dannies Uehara and Lyndon Masami releasing the chemang crablets near the mangroves at Ngemai Conservation Area.
CRE-Vice President Thomas Taro and aquaculture staff Dannies Uehara and Lyndon Masami releasing the chemang crablets near the mangroves at Ngemai Conservation Area.

Hatchery-bred crablets place inside the plastic container.
Hatchery-bred crablets place inside the plastic container.

Close-up photo of a 30 to 32 days old released chemang crablets.
Close-up photo of a 30 to 32 days old released chemang crablets.

High efficiency protocols developed for in vitro multiplication of banana, sweet potato and taro, and produced elite seedlings on mass-scale

KOSRAE, FSM. Dr. Virendra M. Verma, Researcher/Extension Specialist, Kosrae Agricultural Experiment Station.

Tissue cultured banana plants.
Tissue cultured banana plants.

Apical meristem and lateral buds proved best for the establishment of aseptic cultures of banana, sweet potato and taro. Specific surface sterilization methods have been developed for particular explants. Various plant growth regulators, media composition and culture conditions have also been standardized for establishment of aseptic cultures and multiplication. Acclimatization techniques were standardized for the hardening of plantlets. High efficiency protocols have been developed for rapid multiplication and production of elite seedlings on mass-scale for different varieties of banana, sweet potato and taro. Participants knowledge and skills about micropropagation and nursery management techniques have been increased through collection and review of related literature; experimentation on micropropagation and conservation;  establishment of nursery management system; development of high efficiency  multiplication protocols; production of elite seedlings on mass-scale;  showcase of new varieties; and organization of training workshops.  Developed high efficiency multiplication protocols and nursery management systems have been utilized to produce elite seedlings of banana, taro and sweet potato in bulk quantity. Distribution of elite seedlings in bulk quantity has enabled local farmers to cultivate food crops on larger scales and therefore, has resulted in increased agricultural production.  Many youths and adults have started establishing their farms and are cultivating different varieties of banana, taro and sweet potato. The extension activities have improved knowledge, created awareness and developed skills of participants in sustainable agriculture systems. The project activities have made extension agents capable of organizing trainings, teaching farmers and providing technical assistance, and apply gained knowledge and skills in the field. Ultimately the project has developed positive attitudes, zeal for learning techniques and farming aspects, and has changed the behavior of the participants. Harvested bananas and taro were showcased during the State Agriculture Fair and were awarded with the first prize for banana/taro category.

Training for black pepper farmers on Pohnpei

POHNPEI, FSM.  Kazuo Ishikawa, Cooperator, Japan Volunteer.

Eighty-five percent of world black pepper production is from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brazil, 14% is from South Asia, Madagascar, Sri-Lanka, China, and Costa Rica. Pohnpei accounts for less than 1%.

black-pepper-workshop-participants
Workshop on black pepper attracts farmerss.

Pohnpei Cooperative Extension agents (CES) became involved in the project with only 38 existing black pepper farms.  There are now 155 farmers with an estimated crop value of $500,000 per year.   Extension agents were continued activities for the black pepper cultivation and production in Pohnpei Island by developing and airing radio programs for public awareness and by conducting demonstrations on black pepper cultivation techniques in communities around the island. Twice a month agents visit pepper farms around the island to conduct demonstrations on planting pepper, fertilizing, pruning methods, and other recommended activities.

CES staff advises new farmers on selecting farm sites, selecting fern posts as support for black pepper, and field layout. Agents encourage all pepper growers to apply more compost to improve soil fertility. CES agents identify and work with farmers who are willing and able to produce planting materials for sale and distribution.  CES staff members also conducted a survey of all pepper farms to assess individual farms in term of number of vines of different ages in the field.

A three-day workshop on black pepper production was recently completed at Pohnpei CRE facility.

Class attendees watch how to safely operate a chipper.
Class attendees watch how to safely operate a chipper.

Second day workshop was conducted in the community of Pihs madolenihmw, 19 farmers participated in the compost practice.  Before the practice extension agents explained the purpose, the importance and benefit of compost to soil and the environment.  Agents demonstrated how to start the chipper engine, advised the local materials needed, and the compost methods.