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COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA

LAND GRANT PROGRAM
Contact us: (691) 3202462/2728
P.O Box 1179 Kolonia,Pohnpei FM 96941
  • COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA LAND GRANT PROGRAM

Chuuk

Training on Climate-smart agriculture methods: Chuuk, RMI, Palau

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

Two Researchers from the College of Micronesia-FSM Cooperative Research and Extension conducted a series of training workshops on ‘Climate-Smart Agriculture’ between May 3 and May 13 under the Professional Development Program of the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education. Workshops were conducted at the College of Marshall Islands, Majuro, College of Micronesia-FSM at Chuuk Campus and at the Palau Community College. Purpose of these workshops was to educate and train extension agents, agriculture professionals and farmers in climate-smart agricultural practices. Altogether 51 participants (10 in Majuro, 14 in Chuuk and 25 in Palau) participants including extension agents, agriculture professionals, farmers and staff of various government agencies attended this workshop. The workshops were facilitated by Dr. Murukesan Krishnapillai (Researcher/Extension Specialist, Yap Campus) and Dr. Virendra Verma (Researcher/Extension Specialist, Kosrae Campus). The training workshops covered the following six topics: i) What is smallholder farming, ii) Climate change impacts that you can expect, iii) Climate change impacts on smallholder farming, iv) Improving soil fertility and farm productivity, v) Climate-smart adaptation strategies and, vi) Climate-smart agricultural adaptation strategies. Training sessions were supported by a training manual and several online brochures/training guides. Pre-and post-evaluation results show that participants gained knowledge and awareness on the topics discussed to serve the communities in a better way.

Dr Verma presents information for the Chuuk farmers and Land Grant staff.
Dr Verma presents information for the Chuuk farmers and Land Grant staff.
Palau participants get updated on what might be necessary as the climate changes.
Palau participants get updated on what might be necessary as the climate changes.

Remote Satowan Island welcomes CRE program

WENO, CHUUK.  Kalvin Assito, Community Resource Development Agent (CRD).  Cooperative Extension Service

Chuuk CRE, for the first time, brought the community outreach programs to the remote islands of Satowan Atoll.  The island group is about 180 miles from Weno and has about 1,000 residents.  CRE agents provided 8 varieties of sweet potato to the traditional leader for multiplication and sharing.  These varieties were produced through climate change adaptation research in an effort to improve food security.

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During the visit the CRE agents attended a meeting of the Municipal government leaders.  At that meeting the leaders reported their 2013 accomplishment reports and plans for 2014.  The CRE- Community Resource Development agent discussed ‘livelihood training’ in handicrafts, sewing, cooking and using local natural resources for food security.

The residents of Satowna, lead by Mayor Miaichy Assito expressed their appreciation and thanks to CRE.  They expressed the hope that CRE can soon offer all training programs for the benefit of Satowan and their neighboring islands.

CRD Agent, Kalvin Assito, met with the Mayor on Satowan and his people
CRD Agent, Kalvin Assito, met with the Mayor on Satowan and his people.

Cooperative Research and Extension participated in launching “Fairotiw Fairota” youth organization

WENO, CHUUK, FSM.  Kalvin Assito, Youth Agent, Chuuk Cooperative Extension Service.

On June 26, 2013, a youth organization founded by Linda Mori-Hartmann, called “Fairotiw Fairota” hosted its first youth gathering at Bay View Building in Nepukos, Weno. This non-government organization (NGO) aims to teach the youth Chuukese cultural values through the assistance of government, other NGOs, private sectors and programs.  In particular, COM-FSM CRE will be involved in teaching these young people about moral values to resist alcoholism and other delinquent behavior, cultivating their interests to do gardening and developing income-generating skills like handicraft making.

The Department of Health Director, Mayor of Weno, heads of various collaborating partners and the Chuuk Governor Johnson Elimo joined in this event.  Four other youth groups representing their islands performed traditional dances and songs that signified their own cultural values.

Chuuk Governor Johnson Elimo set himself as an example on how to value their lives and culture.  As a youth, he was under the influences of drugs that he realized was wrong. He knew that drugs make people miserable. The Governor encourages the youth to participate in worthwhile activities and groups like “Fairotiw Fairota” to ensure their lives have good purpose and high self-esteem.

Chuuk Governor Johnson Elimo addresses gathering
Chuuk Governor Johnson Elimo addresses gathering

Governor Elimo emphatically concluded to them, “Fear the Lord, who is the key fountain in life; value your lives together with your families, villages, islands and state and be actively involved in an organization such as this to understand the secret to life”.

Youth at meeting
Youth at meeting

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.