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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

Palau

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.

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.

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.