Labasa Demo Site

SPCs Land Resources Division under its objective 2 of its strategic plan -Improved Land, Agriculture and Forestry Resources Management and Development will work with a farmer in the island of Vanualevu (Labasa) to set up a Agroforestry Demonstration Farm for the following reasons:

Variety of fruit trees on the Demo Farm.

• Trial out various combinations of indigenous tress species for both timber and fruits, economical exotic species, fruit trees and horticultural crops together with livestock.
• Encourage awareness on mixed farming and biodiversity conservation
• Promote organic farming
• Develop the farm as 'farmer school' for school visits and later turn it into agro-tourism venture

To date, Forest Genetic Officer and Agroforestry Technician from SPC have visited this farm which is located some 21 kilometers from Labasa town towards Tabia. The farmer has freehold land and is already practicing mixed farming.

He is delighted with SPCs assistance and envisages that such joint venture will enable him to preach the gospel of agroforestry and various advantages associated with it.

Swale being created to improve the water table.

SPC and the host farmer will be soon formalizing the engagement via a MoU which has been drafted and sent to the farmer for his sighting.

SPC plans to establish a seedling nursery on the farm, conduct training on plant propagation and trial out some of the climate ready crops. Farmer will be also assisted with some indigenous timber species such as Dakua (Agathis vitiensis) and Vesi (Intsia bijuga) together with Teak, sandalwood and some fruit trees.

2nd Update (18.07.13)
MoU has been signed by SPC Deputy Director General Ms Fekita Utoikamanu yesterday. Work on sourcing of building materials and other logistic is in progress.

This work is in progress and I will continue to update you on that.

3rd Update (8.8.13)
All hardware materials for building nursery and fencing of demonstration plot has been delivered to the project site. Construction of nursery has begun.

4th Update (12.9.13)
Nursery is completed and the seedlings of Dakua, Vesi, Citrus and Cevua is placed. We have also transferred 60  plants (Banana and sweet potato) from test tube into the nursery. Land preparation has also commenced especially for establishing flat land demo site. Fencing is 80% completed.

Charles helping me to transplant tissue culture materials

More pictures on land preparation will be posted soon.

5th Update

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Land Resources Division conducted two-day training in Tabia, Labasa on agroforestry concepts, plant propagation, nursery management and the establishment of agroforestry farms.

Twenty participants comprising staff and representatives from the departments of agriculture and forestry, NGOs and farmers/tree growers participated in the training.

‘We were glad to see this level of training being made available to us here in the North of Fiji.’ These were the words of Charles McCay, the host farmer.

According to McCay, the participants gained new skills, especially on grafting and marcotting techniques, as well as receiving information about soil erosion control and the need to include trees in an integrated farming system. They also learned the technique of transplanting tissue cultures for the first time.

‘We always believe in an integrated farming system and such training and demonstration helps us understand the full concept of agroforestry much better.’

‘Such training enables us farmers to think strategically and take more interest in farming as an agroforestry system, an excellent model for sustainable farm development.’ McCay said.

SPC began working with McCay in June 2013 to establish a flat and slope land agroforestry farm model to try out different combinations of crops and trees and to also use this to transfer technology on some of the best practices that are being tried out.

The two-day training involved having participants practice contour farming by planting various tree species and agricultural crops together.

Indigenous tree species such as Dakua (Agathis macrophylla) and Vesi (Intsia bijuga) were planted on top of the slope, while trees of economic value, such as sandalwood were planted together with citrus and other fruit trees in the middle of the slope with root crops over the base of the slopes.

Similarly, on flat land, crops such as taro, pigeon pea, okra, cowpea, water melon, eggplant and capsicum were planted.

Climate-ready varieties of sweet potato and bananas produced by SPC’s Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePACT) were also planted.

The objective of the training was to enhance the knowledge and capacity of farmers to improve food, nutrition and income security, and improve resilience to climate change while conserving the biodiversity of the farming communities.

The agroforestry training was co-funded by United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) Global Environment Fund under its small grant project.

Some Pictures during training and establishment of demo farms:

Participants with demonstrator Vinesh Prasad

Cenon Demonstrating Marcoting

Participants trying marcoting under watchful guidance from trainers

Tissue culture banana after 3 months.

Taro planting

Sandalwood planting

2014 Activities

Date: 31st March to 4th April, 2014.

Major activities accomplished:

• Transfer tissue cultured bananas and sweet potatoes out in the field.
• Designed and laid out cocoa plot, planted 35 cocoa seedlings
• 25 Mahogany, 30 Vesi, 30 Dakua were planted on the boundary.
• Turmeric was planted in between cocoa plants
• 50 coconut seedlings were planted
• Pruned few bigger trees to provide more sunlight to sandalwood.
• Develop in farm drain to drain out excess water from cocoa plot.
• Planted pineapples on slopes
• Fertilized Taro, sweet potatoes and bananas.

Next three month work plan was also discussed with farmer:

• Shift beehive to the slope, away from dwelling
• Establish 300 plant plantation of teak, integrate it with Koronivia grass as sheep will be introduced to this at later stage.
• Duck egg laying shed to be improved.
• Drenching of sheep (controlling internal Parasites)
• Continue to pot sandalwood that germinate

Agriculture Minister Inia Seruiratu with seniors forestry officials including PS Wainoqolo paid a surprise visit to the farm and the minister was impressed with the activities and Integrated business approach undertaken at model farm. 

2015 Activities
20 April to 25th April, 2015.

Further development work continued on the site. Planted 107 teak, 49 cocoa, Intercropped with tumeric to suppress weeds and earn extra income from same unit area, while cocoa bears in five years. Cleaned up the whole cocoa plot, sow 200 teak seeds in nursery, undertake pruning of sandalwood plants, shift beehive to new site.

Farmer Charles McCay with SPC Agroforestry intern, Epeli D. Photo taken by Vinesh Prasad- Agroforestry Technician. 

Epeli Draniikamate plants Teak tree.

Cocoa plot being cleared by Epeli and Vinesh

Cocoa plot clearing. Both photos by Josua.

Results:

• Farmer earned $300 within three months for inter cropping pigeon pea that was planted between two rows of cocoa. Area planted was 30m x 4m at a spacing of 60cm between rows and 30cm between plants. variety planted was Tara. Planted in April, harvested in July.
• Sold sandalwood seedlings raised in the SPC funded nursery at recent Fiji Agriculture Show. the income was $1000.00
• Honey production is expected to double by December this year with inclusion of 8 new hives. In June farmer sold honey worth of $1000.00  from 7 hives.
• Monthly sales of ducks and chicken from farm valuing at $100.00 

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