Horticulture industry development for market-remote communities

• Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries and Meteorology, Samoa

Remote tropical communities undertaking horticultural activities must carefully choose what enterprises they invest in, with particular focus on the distance of these communities from markets. Where infrastructure is poor or non-existent only produce with a longer shelf life and good chance of surviving to market can be grown. Perishable commodities will not survive and reduce or destroy profitability. Technical research has made advances in improving both pre- and postharvest management of a variety of horticultural produce. Many of these have positive implications for shelf life, making up for under-developed supply chains and also enhancing development of these chains. Quality management systems are of great importance, generating improved practices and efficiencies throughout the supply chain.
Information packages are the key to delivering these improvements, and to the industry's long-term sustainability. They can help remote communities such as those in Samoa and Cape York Peninsula in Australia to make the right choices of what fruits to grow and how to deliver improvements to the supply chain. The problem of insufficient access to relevant information is common to many remote communities in both developed and developing countries. The methodology adopted in this project will be applicable in other communities in both developed and undeveloped areas.

This project was designed to foster the sustainable development of horticulture in Samoa and on Cape York Peninsula to supply local and distant markets, by enhancing capacity for the development and use of technical information by researchers, extension personnel and farmers.

The project team first confirmed the participation of communities through interactions with selected community groups. They then proceeded to select and employ a project officer. The project work plan next went on to develop and test research tools and to train staff including the project officer in how to use them. This included writing questionnaires, testing and refining survey tools and training extension staff in social research methodology and the use of research methods.
The researchers undertook data collection through interviews with community members. They analysed the data and developed the information strategy based on the data analysis. They conducted an information session to inform participants about project results and sought feedback on any conclusions and interpretations.
They developed information product list time-lines for writing and product publication, referring to results of previous work by FAO-UNDP which were a key resource for the project. They then devised a training course in information product development for advisory staff, prior to writing, publishing and distributing the information products.
Training for extension officers and raising farmer awareness of the package enhanced the local capacity to use the information. This was further extended through a workshop held in Samoa, which was also an opportunity to disseminate information to other South Pacific countries.

Although the project locations in both countries had similarities they also showed diversity, providing confidence that the project methodology can apply broadly across the Pacific and to other areas of the world with limited information sources on tropical horticulture.
In Samoa, project cooperators included the growers of commercial crops, the sellers of produce and those involved in value-adding to local produce as information end-users, together with staff of MAF including researchers, advisors and information officers, staff of other government and non-government institutions with similar aims as information providers.
In Australia, project cooperators included individuals and administrators of various Aboriginal communities on Cape York Peninsula, particularly Mapoon Community and commercial growers and support agencies in the Cooktown area.
Information analysis was conducted through a rapid rural appraisal (RRA) using card sort techniques, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, together with participatory rural appraisal (PRA) activities comprising 52 interviews and farm visits, eight meetings and two PRAs with participants from the four target groups in Samoa.
Semi-structured and Card-sort interviews were conducted with 89 people in Mapoon, Napranum, Weipa, Lockhart River, Coen and Cooktown during 17 visits to the Peninsula and Cooktown. In addition, there were two visits by Cooktown and Peninsula growers to southern production areas, two focus group meetings were held with commercial growers in the Cooktown area, and a public presentation day was conducted in Mapoon.
Capacity building for Samoan staff included four workshops on information product development and six visits to information and crops marketing locations in Australia.
Over 100 publications and 12 editions of the project newsletter were produced. More significantly, the ability to produce such items is retained and used in Samoa and the knowledge of information sources and an ability to research these sources is retained in the Cooktown and Peninsula Communities.