PNG & South Pacific

ACIAR's position in the Pacific islands will continue to develop in line with broader Australian development assistance priorities. There is an increasing awareness of the importance of changing economic and environmental situations, and the vulnerability of small developing island states if flexibility and adaptation to change are not achieved. The Pacific islands countries have a range of challenges including eroding tariff preferences, population and urban growth, migration of skilled labour, resource depletion and degradation, and risks from climate change. As described in Pacific 2020-challenges and opportunities for growth , ineffective policy implementation is seen as a significant impediment to development and progress.

Agriculture, forestry and fisheries sustain many households and will comprise the majority of livelihoods of Pacific islands countries for the foreseeable future. Many smallholders live in isolated rural communities dependent on household food production and intermittent crop, fish and small livestock sales. Improving and transforming these systems into sustainable income-generating activities through improved productivity and marketing will enhance self-reliance and reduce poverty over time, as will diversification into new activities.

The development of an agriculture-enabling environment is an ongoing objective. Participation in regional projects that address common problems, where appropriate, will help overcome the limited capacity of many countries to engage in collaborative activities. ACIAR has a strong emphasis on working with Pacific regional organisations to improve effective delivery of outputs. In partnership with the University of the South Pacific, ACIAR will implement a scholarships program designed to increase capacity in the region through the allocation of Postgraduate Diploma and Masters Degree scholarships for research associated with ACIAR projects in the Pacific.

Relationship to the AusAID regional strategy

AusAID's Pacific Regional Aid Strategy 2004-09 identifies four key themes: stronger broad-based growth; more effective, accountable and democratic government; improved law, justice and security; and enhanced service delivery. These themes are further underlined in the Pacific 2020 report with a commitment to address governance and institutions, infrastructure, regional cooperation and implementation of programs.

ACIAR's Pacific program, through its three research emphases (increased productivity and diversification through new crops, products and value-adding; development of sustainable management systems; underpinning of systems development, economics, marketing and biosecurity), contributes to these objectives primarily in the thematic area of broad-based economic growth. In fisheries, ACIAR will work in cooperation with AusAID's new Pacific fisheries strategy developed in 2007.

Country-specific issues

Factors affecting agricultural development include geographical isolation, fluctuations in export markets for Tongan produce, a limited natural resources base and governance structures. Tonga has high natural disaster susceptibility, which limits income-generating opportunities, and relatively high youth unemployment. Opportunities exist for increased income generation through the development of products for the local market and the exploitation of market niches.

For crop-related research, future support is likely to be in the areas of diversification, improved productivity, reduction in input costs and postharvest quality improvement. There is a current emphasis on farming systems, and development of markets (local and inter-island) is an ongoing challenge. Areas of research emphasis in Tonga include productivity of fruits, root crops and vegetables; development of new crops such as coffee and spices; and development of capacity in postharvest technology. Development of agroforestry-based farming systems (including tree legumes and fruit trees) is a priority in forestry since plantation resources are modest.

Tuna is the main fishery export from Tonga and, together with snapper and aquarium fish, is a major export income source. Research will continue into the development of aquaculture systems for commercially important reef species (e.g. hatchery production of winged oyster).

ACIAR's position in the Pacific islands will continue to develop in line with broader Australian development assistance priorities. There is an increasing awareness of the importance of changing economic and environmental situations, and the vulnerability of small developing island states if flexibility and adaptation to change are not achieved. The Pacific islands countries have a range of challenges including eroding tariff preferences, population and urban growth, migration of skilled labour, resource depletion and degradation, and risks from climate change. As described in Pacific 2020-challenges and opportunities for growth , ineffective policy implementation is seen as a significant impediment to development and progress.

Agriculture, forestry and fisheries sustain many households and will comprise the majority of livelihoods of Pacific islands countries for the foreseeable future. Many smallholders live in isolated rural communities dependent on household food production and intermittent crop, fish and small livestock sales. Improving and transforming these systems into sustainable income-generating activities through improved productivity and marketing will enhance self-reliance and reduce poverty over time, as will diversification into new activities.

The development of an agriculture-enabling environment is an ongoing objective. Participation in regional projects that address common problems, where appropriate, will help overcome the limited capacity of many countries to engage in collaborative activities. ACIAR has a strong emphasis on working with Pacific regional organisations to improve effective delivery of outputs. In partnership with the University of the South Pacific, ACIAR will implement a scholarships program designed to increase capacity in the region through the allocation of Postgraduate Diploma and Masters Degree scholarships for research associated with ACIAR projects in the Pacific.

Relationship to the AusAID regional strategy

AusAID's Pacific Regional Aid Strategy 2004-09 identifies four key themes: stronger broad-based growth; more effective, accountable and democratic government; improved law, justice and security; and enhanced service delivery. These themes are further underlined in the Pacific 2020 report with a commitment to address governance and institutions, infrastructure, regional cooperation and implementation of programs.

ACIAR's Pacific program, through its three research emphases (increased productivity and diversification through new crops, products and value-adding; development of sustainable management systems; underpinning of systems development, economics, marketing and biosecurity), contributes to these objectives primarily in the thematic area of broad-based economic growth. In fisheries, ACIAR will work in cooperation with AusAID's new Pacific fisheries strategy developed in 2007.

Country-specific issues

Vanuatu's agriculture sector (along with tourism) remains the main focus of the country's development strategy. The main activities relate to coconut, cattle, cocoa, and timber production, with traditional food production for subsistence and local markets. Smallholders also cultivate peanuts, potatoes, vanilla and pepper. Although Vanuatu is an agricultural exporter, the majority of the population is in the subsistence or informal sector.

The Vanuatu Government is currently developing a holistic agricultural plan for the country which will give direction to future ACIAR cooperation in agriculture and fisheries. For the current planning period, the focus of ACIAR activities in Vanuatu will be in forestry. Forest covers almost 40% of the total land area of the country, and policy and technical interventions for sustainable management of plantations and development of new species of commercial value for both plantations and smallholders are important. In forestry, assistance is needed in relation to assessing commercial prospects for native species, including sandalwood and whitewood.

PNG is one of Australia's most important development partners, and ACIAR's program in PNG reflects this. ACIAR's program recognises the many challenges to agricultural development in PNG, including poorly developed infrastructure, weak market signals and services, pressure on land and renewable resources as a result of population increases and new pest and disease threats, and poor product quality. Future impacts of population pressure and of HIV/AIDS and other human diseases on the farming sector, including effects on labour availability and productivity, will be addressed and gender issues will be mainstreamed into the program. Recognising the enormous potential of agriculture for sustaining the basic livelihood of the people, the Papua New Guinea Department of Agriculture and Livestock has developed a National Agriculture Development Plan as a blueprint to guide future directions in agriculture and rural development.

Village-based agriculture supports over 70% of the population, and domestic trading of fresh produce is a very important source of cash income. By far the most important crop in PNG is sweet potato, the dominant staple for over 65% of the rural population. The main export tree commodities are timber, oil palm, coffee, cocoa and coconuts. Forestry is PNG's third largest revenue earner and a major contributor to economic and social development. PNG has several significant competitive advantages in relation to the production of timber-available land, good soils and climate, and a long history of successful incorporation of trees into agroforestry systems. The PNG fisheries zone of 2.4 million square kilometres is the largest in the South Pacific. The fisheries zone includes an extended reef system, numerous islands and an extensive coastline. These create huge opportunity but also present an enormous challenge for monitoring and control. The total market value of the PNG catch is estimated at $A140-160 million. Pigs and poultry are important village animals and there are some live exports of cattle from PNG. ACIAR will assist in the development of capacity to detect and manage infectious disease in the wider context of biosecurity arrangements and in collaboration with other Australian agencies. Where relevant, close linkages will be formed between ACIARfunded programs in PNG and the Pacific Islands, for example in root and tree crops, fisheries and forestry.

Key principles in designing and executing the program include the importance of engagement with the private sector, industry bodies and NGOs along with government in both research and implementation of research results; the importance of research that assists the engagement of smallholders in the cash economy; and the importance of understanding social and economic issues affecting farmer decision making and factors influencing adoption of new technologies. Research is urgently needed into more effective ways of up-scaling the adoption of R&D results from pilot level involvement of communities to enable broader implementation. ACIAR will work with counterparts to assist in communication and extension of the results of research. As well as making a greater commitment to the implementation of the results of research, the need for on-going development of agricultural technologies remains strong.

There is particular need to develop the informal sector (including those involved in village level production and marketing of root and horticultural crops, small livestock), improve the productivity of major tree crops (increase production and exports, lower production costs), and to support research and development that assists in diversification of the agricultural export product base.

There are requirements for capacity building at the individual and institutional level in all areas, but particularly to support analyses of social and economic constraints and opportunities, marketing and value addition of agricultural products and in agricultural education. PNG's relative lack of resources and expertise is a constraint in R&D activities and delivery of extension services. It is therefore crucial during design and implementation of projects to involve farmers and extension workers, and to include training and packaging of research results in a form useful to farmers, members of industry and policymakers.

Relationship to the AusAID PNG strategy

AusAID's PNG program supports the Government of Papua New Guinea's medium-term development strategy focus on sustainable broad-based economic growth for the country. It does this by working with PNG government agencies and systems to ensure better use of the country's own resources, leading to stronger economic management, better delivery of essential services, and improved law and order. The importance of strengthening political governance, building sustainable government institutions, exploiting opportunities to stimulate sustainable economic growth and maintaining service delivery is recognised. In 2008-09 the program focus will be on improved governance and nation building, sustainable broad-based economic growth and increased productivity (including from the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors), improved service delivery and stability, and responding to the HIV/AIDS crisis.

ACIAR's PNG program, delivered with AusAID cofunding, supports the emphasis on economic growth by working with PNG government agencies to improve agricultural productivity. Partnership with PNG public and private institutions supports better use of PNG's own resources. With more than 85% of the population in rural areas, development of agricultural industries and the smallholder cash economy will be critical to achieving broad-based economic growth and improving rural livelihoods in PNG.

ACIAR's position in the Pacific islands will continue to develop in line with broader Australian development assistance priorities. There is an increasing awareness of the importance of changing economic and environmental situations, and the vulnerability of small developing island states if flexibility and adaptation to change are not achieved. The Pacific islands countries have a range of challenges including eroding tariff preferences, population and urban growth, migration of skilled labour, resource depletion and degradation, and risks from climate change. As described in Pacific 2020-challenges and opportunities for growth , ineffective policy implementation is seen as a significant impediment to development and progress.

Agriculture, forestry and fisheries sustain many households and will comprise the majority of livelihoods of Pacific islands countries for the foreseeable future. Many smallholders live in isolated rural communities dependent on household food production and intermittent crop, fish and small livestock sales. Improving and transforming these systems into sustainable income-generating activities through improved productivity and marketing will enhance self-reliance and reduce poverty over time, as will diversification into new activities.

The development of an agriculture-enabling environment is an ongoing objective. Participation in regional projects that address common problems, where appropriate, will help overcome the limited capacity of many countries to engage in collaborative activities. ACIAR has a strong emphasis on working with Pacific regional organisations to improve effective delivery of outputs. In partnership with the University of the South Pacific, ACIAR will implement a scholarships program designed to increase capacity in the region through the allocation of Postgraduate Diploma and Masters Degree scholarships for research associated with ACIAR projects in the Pacific.

Relationship to the AusAID regional strategy

AusAID's Pacific Regional Aid Strategy 2004-09 identifies four key themes: stronger broad-based growth; more effective, accountable and democratic government; improved law, justice and security; and enhanced service delivery. These themes are further underlined in the Pacific 2020 report with a commitment to address governance and institutions, infrastructure, regional cooperation and implementation of programs.

ACIAR's Pacific program, through its three research emphases (increased productivity and diversification through new crops, products and value-adding; development of sustainable management systems; underpinning of systems development, economics, marketing and biosecurity), contributes to these objectives primarily in the thematic area of broad-based economic growth. In fisheries, ACIAR will work in cooperation with AusAID's new Pacific fisheries strategy developed in 2007.

Country-specific issues

Samoa has recently had comparatively strong economic growth across a range of sectors, including agriculture. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has several research stations and experimental farms. Samoa is also the agriculture base of the University of the South Pacific, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Subregional Program and the South Pacific Regional Environmental Program (SPREP). There has been a strong emphasis in the ACIAR program on insect pest management (fruit flies, fruit piercing moth, whitefly and aphids), virus indexing of taro as well as biological control of pests and weeds. Projects undertaken have studied forest nutrition and health as well as fisheries. Samoa has expertise in germplasm selection of root crops and fruits and in techniques of tissue culture propagation.

Research opportunities include those that underpin the development of exports of high-value horticultural products. This may require postharvest research to improve shelf life and transport to boost fruit exports and simple processing/value-addition of fruit tree and root crops. Research to assist improvements in niche marketing of commodities, potentially including organic produce, is of importance. This may include identification of alternative extension and information transfer technologies.

In forestry, research opportunities may exist in the following areas: policy incentives for establishment of woodlots; nursery management techniques; forest weeds, pests and diseases; and better utilisation of timbers. Increasing wood yields from sawmilling is a high priority as there is currently significant wastage. In fisheries, opportunities may include research on community-based approaches to the management of reef fisheries and technical interventions to underpin the development of village aquaculture industries.

ACIAR's position in the Pacific islands will continue to develop in line with broader Australian development assistance priorities. There is an increasing awareness of the importance of changing economic and environmental situations, and the vulnerability of small developing island states if flexibility and adaptation to change are not achieved. The Pacific islands countries have a range of challenges including eroding tariff preferences, population and urban growth, migration of skilled labour, resource depletion and degradation, and risks from climate change. As described in Pacific 2020-challenges and opportunities for growth , ineffective policy implementation is seen as a significant impediment to development and progress.

Agriculture, forestry and fisheries sustain many households and will comprise the majority of livelihoods of Pacific islands countries for the foreseeable future. Many smallholders live in isolated rural communities dependent on household food production and intermittent crop, fish and small livestock sales. Improving and transforming these systems into sustainable income-generating activities through improved productivity and marketing will enhance self-reliance and reduce poverty over time, as will diversification into new activities.

The development of an agriculture-enabling environment is an ongoing objective. Participation in regional projects that address common problems, where appropriate, will help overcome the limited capacity of many countries to engage in collaborative activities. ACIAR has a strong emphasis on working with Pacific regional organisations to improve effective delivery of outputs. In partnership with the University of the South Pacific, ACIAR will implement a scholarships program designed to increase capacity in the region through the allocation of Postgraduate Diploma and Masters Degree scholarships for research associated with ACIAR projects in the Pacific.

Relationship to the AusAID regional strategy

AusAID's Pacific Regional Aid Strategy 2004-09 identifies four key themes: stronger broad-based growth; more effective, accountable and democratic government; improved law, justice and security; and enhanced service delivery. These themes are further underlined in the Pacific 2020 report with a commitment to address governance and institutions, infrastructure, regional cooperation and implementation of programs.

ACIAR's Pacific program, through its three research emphases (increased productivity and diversification through new crops, products and value-adding; development of sustainable management systems; underpinning of systems development, economics, marketing and biosecurity), contributes to these objectives primarily in the thematic area of broad-based economic growth. In fisheries, ACIAR will work in cooperation with AusAID's new Pacific fisheries strategy developed in 2007.

Country-specific issues

The recent civil conflict caused stagnation or collapse in the production and export of many commodities. Fish, timber, copra, palm oil and cocoa were previously substantial exports, along with minerals such as gold. Opportunities exist for ACIAR to participate in activities designed to resuscitate and redevelop export industries such as oil palm. Most Solomon Islanders live in isolated rural communities dependent on subsistence agriculture and intermittent crop and small livestock sales, although many also have access to more lucrative urban markets.

ACIAR's Solomon Islands program has had a strong fisheries emphasis, including economic and technical research to support the development of sustainable livelihood opportunities based on the culture of coral reef animals. Income generation initiatives, particularly in rural areas, remain important in the broader scheme of economic and social recovery in Solomon Islands, and much of this necessarily needs to be in horticulture, forestry and fisheries. There are opportunities for smallholders to exploit lucrative market niches for high-value horticultural crops, value-added products and other diversified products, particularly in the developing urban markets. Widespread community interest in the planting of teak offers a development opportunity that is highly suited to ACIAR intervention. ACIAR will continue to develop further opportunities for specific linkages with AusAID's Transitional Support for Agriculture Program and subsequent initiatives as they come into operation, and will interact with the World Bank and European Union as they prepare an Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy for Solomon Islands.

ACIAR's position in the Pacific islands will continue to develop in line with broader Australian development assistance priorities. There is an increasing awareness of the importance of changing economic and environmental situations, and the vulnerability of small developing island states if flexibility and adaptation to change are not achieved. The Pacific islands countries have a range of challenges including eroding tariff preferences, population and urban growth, migration of skilled labour, resource depletion and degradation, and risks from climate change. As described in Pacific 2020-challenges and opportunities for growth , ineffective policy implementation is seen as a significant impediment to development and progress.

Agriculture, forestry and fisheries sustain many households and will comprise the majority of livelihoods of Pacific islands countries for the foreseeable future. Many smallholders live in isolated rural communities dependent on household food production and intermittent crop, fish and small livestock sales. Improving and transforming these systems into sustainable income-generating activities through improved productivity and marketing will enhance self-reliance and reduce poverty over time, as will diversification into new activities.

The development of an agriculture-enabling environment is an ongoing objective. Participation in regional projects that address common problems, where appropriate, will help overcome the limited capacity of many countries to engage in collaborative activities. ACIAR has a strong emphasis on working with Pacific regional organisations to improve effective delivery of outputs. In partnership with the University of the South Pacific, ACIAR will implement a scholarships program designed to increase capacity in the region through the allocation of Postgraduate Diploma and Masters Degree scholarships for research associated with ACIAR projects in the Pacific.

Relationship to the AusAID regional strategy

AusAID's Pacific Regional Aid Strategy 2004-09 identifies four key themes: stronger broad-based growth; more effective, accountable and democratic government; improved law, justice and security; and enhanced service delivery. These themes are further underlined in the Pacific 2020 report with a commitment to address governance and institutions, infrastructure, regional cooperation and implementation of programs.

ACIAR's Pacific program, through its three research emphases (increased productivity and diversification through new crops, products and value-adding; development of sustainable management systems; underpinning of systems development, economics, marketing and biosecurity), contributes to these objectives primarily in the thematic area of broad-based economic growth. In fisheries, ACIAR will work in cooperation with AusAID's new Pacific fisheries strategy developed in 2007.

Country-specific issues

Fiji's poverty level is comparatively low although rural- urban income inequality is an increasing problem. ACIAR project emphasis has shifted from crop and livestock production to horticulture, aquaculture and agricultural economics. There has been strong ongoing cooperation in fisheries, particularly in aquaculture.

A high priority in ACIAR's program in Fiji is economic and technical research aimed at developing crop and agricultural industry alternatives to sugar and, in coordination with other government and donor initiatives, understanding the impact of specific policy changes on Fiji's food production sector. Developments in promising horticultural crops and accompanying postharvest technologies and marketing options are being explored. A major thrust of ACIAR work in Fiji's horticulture sector is capacity building in research and development.

Opportunities for research to improve livelihoods in fisheries include: more productive inland farming systems, aquatic health including quarantine and import risk assessment, restocking as a tool to rehabilitate sea cucumber fisheries, and improved feed formulations for freshwater finfish and Macrobrachium. More research may be needed on the marketing of fisheries products. Some options for forestry cooperation include timber use, value-adding to mahogany and native species, plantation management and health, and increasing the potential of indigenous forestry species.