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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

Pohnpei

COM’s RMI Regent Minister Heine Visits Sea Cucumber Hatchery

KOLONIA, POHNPEI, FSM. Dr. Manoj R. Nair, Director & Chief Scientist, COM Land Grant Aquaculture Programs, Nett Point, Pohnpei, FSM.

College of Micronesia Land Grant Program (NIFA, USDA) (COMLG), Board of Regents Member & Minister of Education Republic of the Marshall Islands Mr. Wilbur Heine and College of Marshall Islands Dean of Land Grant Mr. Biuma Samson visited Pohnpei from June 5-7, 2016.

Left to Right OFA Administrator Mr. Casiano Shoniber, Dean CMI Land Grant Biuma Samson, RMI Ambassador to Washington DC Mr. Gerald Zackios,, Director and Chief Scientist COM Aquaculture , Dr. Manoj R. Nair , Minister of Education RMI and COM Board Member, Mr. Wilbur Heine in front of the COM Land Grant Nett Point Hatchery at Nett Point, Pohnpei State.
Left to Right OFA Administrator Mr. Casiano Shoniber, Dean CMI Land Grant Biuma Samson, RMI Ambassador to Washington DC Mr. Gerald Zackios, Director and Chief Scientist COM Aquaculture, Dr. Manoj R. Nair , Minister of Education RMI and COM Board Member, Mr. Wilbur Heine in front of the COM Land Grant Nett Point Hatchery at Nett Point, Pohnpei State.

The main purpose of the visit was to visit the COM Land Grant Aquaculture Program at the COM Land Grant Nett Point hatchery. The COM Land Grant hatchery at Nett Point is currently developing site specific aquaculture technologies for economic development of FSM and Palau. The main focus currently is on sea cucumber aquaculture. The targeted species is the commercially important sea cucumber species Holothuria scabra commonly called sandfish and locally called “Langon” in Pohnpeian language. The sea cucumber farming tehnology being developed and trialed is based on hatchery produced sea cucumber juveniles.

Minister Wilbur Heine wanted to actually see the work being undertaken hands on by the local staff under the supervision of Dr. Nair. Minister Wilbur Heine and Dean Biuma Sampson had discussions with Dr. Nair to explore the possibility of coming over and establishing a sea cucumber hatchery in Majuro at the CMI Arrak Campus aquaculture facility and train Marshallese staff at COM Land Grant Nett Point hatchery on sea cucumber. These staff are expected to run the hatchery in Majuro when finished and up and running.

During the visit at Nett Point, Minster Wilbur Heine and Dean Biuma Samson also had the opportunity to meet the new Adiminstrator of Pohnpei State Government Office of the Fisheries and Aquaculture (OFA) Mr. Casiano Shoniber. The Minister Wilbur Heine and Dean CMI Land Grant was accompanied by Former Secreteriat of Pacific Community (SPC) Northern Region Chief and the new Republic of the Marshall Islands Ambassador to Washington DC, Mr Gerald Zackios.

Pearl farm management and halfpearl seeding training in Pakin Atoll, Pohnpei State, February 5-7, 2104

KOLONIA, POHNPEI, FSM. Dr. Manoj R. Nair (1) and Justino Smith (2)

(1) Director & Chief Scientist, COM Land Grant Aquaculture Programs, Nett Point, Pohnpei, FSM
(2) Senior Aquaculture Extension Agent, COM–FSM Pohnpei Campus, Pohnpei, FSM

As part of a joint project between College of Micronesia Land Grant Porgram (NIFA, USDA) (COMLG), Pakin Community Association (PCA) , Office of the Fisheries and Aquaculture, Pohnpei State (OFA), Conservation Society of Pohnpei (CSP) funded by Small Grants Program (SGP) under the Global Environment Fund (GEF), United Nations, a team from COMLG and OFA led by Dr. Manoj R. Nair, Chief Scientist and Aquaculture Project Director, COMLG, visited Pakin Atoll in Sokehs District of Pohnpei State from February 5-7, 2014 to provide hands-on training for pearl farm management and half pearl seeding training to community members on Pakin. As part of the excersise several members of the community were retrained in pearl farm nursery management and farm maintanance techniques. In addition 6 pre-sleected candidates were (3 girls and 3 boys) imparted hands on skill training in half pearl seeding training by COMLG personnel. The nursery husbandry technique training involved teaching the community how to handle oysters more efficiently while cleaning without stressing and damaging the oysters. They were further taught making chaplets, drilling oysters without damage, hanging oysters, fixing longlines etc..

COMLG Team member Clayton imparting training on half pearl seeding to trainee Kayleen.
COMLG Team member Clayton imparting training on half pearl seeding to trainee Kayleen.

 

Community member getting trained in handling oysters while cleaning.
Community member getting trained in handling oysters while cleaning.

Six trainees were imparted skill training in half pearl seeding. They were taught different aspects of pearl biology and half pearl seeding, how to handle tools, keep records, post operative care of oysters etc.. Two Master Technicians imparted hands on training to the six trainees. The trainees combinly seeded 97 oysters implanting 5-6 half pearl nuclei per oyster. Each trainees performance has been carefully recorded by the team and oysters tagged. This data will allow the team to monitor individual trainee performance to assess and evaluate them and seleact a couple among the six to further train them and thereby attaining confidence to seed all the current and future oysters for the Pakin Community farm thereby making them self-sufficient as far as half pearl seeding is concerened.

COMLG Team with the community member trainees during the certificate ceremony.
COMLG Team with the community member trainees during the certificate ceremony.

The team wishes to thank the GEF program for their funding support, Executive Director, COMLG (NIFA, USDA) and Adminstrator, OFA for their in-kind contribution for this project. Special thanks are also due to Mr. Masahiro Ito, former Director and Chief Scientist COMLG Aquaculture Programs for his valuable inputs in this project’s conceptulization, design and its initial initiation. The team further acknowdge with thanks the warm hospitality of Pakin community. Dr. Nair or Justino Smith, Senior Aquaculture Extension Agent can be reached at 320-2462/ 2728 or 5731; 320-6038 (COMLG Nett Point Aquaculture Hatchery) for further information about this project or other queries on Aquaculture Programs at COMLG.

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.