Food Security and Agriculture Cluster

FOOD SECURITY AND AGRICULTURE CLUSTER

James Wasi (Director ,Department of Agriculture ,Chair, Food Security & Agriculture Cluster) Phone:+6785958886 Email: jwasi@vanuatu.gov.vu Emma Coll (Food Security and Agriculture Cluster Coordination Advisor, FAO-DARD) Phone:+6785374109 Email: [email protected] Christopher Bartlett (Technical Advisor ,SPC-GIZ Climate Change) Phone: +6785552187 Email: [email protected]

Food Security and Agriculture Cluster Meeting # 3 Friday, March 2015 DARD Conference Room 2:00pm-4:00pm

Members present: see participant list below

Agenda items and discussion:

1. Welcome and update on agenda items (Acting Director of Agriculture, Mr James Wasi)

2. Agenda Items a. Update of sub-cluster (Groups) work progress

● Communications group (Mathias Bule) ● Key messages to farmers developed and finalized (re-Livestock, crops and aid distribution) ● 6900 copies printed and distributed to planes going out ● key messages broadcasted on FM107 and ABC ● materials uploaded on NAB portal

● Rapid Assessment update in Tanna (Peter Iesul) ● Update on Situation in Tanna ● Banana 100% damage ● Yam (2 different varieties) – different impacts. Risks for pests and diseases. ● Manioc 80-90% damages ● All fruit trees are down ● Island cabage – fully damaged

FOOD SECURITY AND AGRICULTURE CLUSTER

James Wasi (Director ,Department of Agriculture ,Chair, Food Security & Agriculture Cluster) Phone:+6785958886 Email: [email protected] Emma Coll (Food Security and Agriculture Cluster Coordination Advisor, FAO-DARD) Phone:+6785374109 Email: [email protected] Christopher Bartlett (Technical Advisor ,SPC-GIZ Climate Change) Phone: +6785552187 Email: [email protected]

● Rapid Assessment update in Shepherd Islands, Ambrym & Pentecost (Lonny) ● Update on situation in Shepherds islands ● Badly damaged ● Fruits crops wiped out ● Abrym (west) – not too damaged – unlike Estern part ● Pentecost same situation as above – livestock will become a problem ● Northern part (James) ● All crops being destroyed (banana, taro and manioc) ● Yam is okay (but not going to be ready for may-june-july) ● Some to most of the crops are destroyed. ● Assessment is too rapid

Dr Christopher Bartlett

● Priorities on islands (in accordance with damage): ● Priority number 1 islands: Shepherds, Tanna and Erromago ● Priority number 2 islands: Aniwa, Pentecost, Maewo, Aneityum, Futuna, Ambrym, Merelava, Paama ● No priority set yet: Malakula & Ambae

● Assessment process: Rapid assessment first then a detailed assessment (latter to be undertaken in the coming weeks and it’s plan to be developed over the weekend)

b. Update on food purchase and vegetable seeds

● Food aid group (nutrient requirements of the population) ● Government to provide initial food response package (to last 2 weeks and is given to every individual) ● Priority 1 areas / islands: rice = 5kgs; 1 tin fish (425g); 1 tin meat (200g), 2 packet of noodles ● Priority 2 areas / islands: rice = 5kgs; 1 tin meat (200g), 2 packet of noodles

FOOD SECURITY AND AGRICULTURE CLUSTER

● Food (for aid packages) has been purchased this morning and will be shipped to islands starting from tonight. ● Accompanied by guidelines to guide ● Distribution in peri-urban areas will be different to those in communities in islands. ● Will be given to people only Wednesday ● Logistics cluster is dealing with shipping ● Reminder that food donations / distribution tentative should go through NDMO first. ● Food in country only sufficient for 2 weeks, there will be a 2 weeks gap in April until shops stock up on supplies again. ● World Food Programme (team of 20 people) – to organize import of food to compensate for the 2 weeks gap.

Additional points / comments raised during meeting

● Should assist and guide communities in preserving food ● Markets should re-open and people should be able to sell their produce while they still can to make some money.

● Package of seeds [Vincent Japiot] ● Budget necessary: approx 10 million vatu for seeds & 25 million vatu in tools ● Working in country and with neighboring countries to secure sufficient supplies. ● Repackaging of seed supplies will most likely be necessary as small/ individual packets may not be sufficient. ● Working on financial agreements and with biosecurity for import permit. ● Memorandum on importation of seeds ● Standard guideline developed

st ● Package (for 1 distribution) = 5 different packets of different seeds / per household.

FOOD SECURITY AND AGRICULTURE CLUSTER

● To be sent out tomorrow morning to: Shepherds, Tanna & Erromango. Not to offshore islands because there aren’t enough seeds in country.

Additional points / comments raised during meeting

● Key message communications / guidelines – should provide seed planting advice (not to plant the whole packets) ● Seed growing guidelines for communities that are affected by volcanic ashes ● In addition to guideline pamphlets, there should be people on the ground to assist in providing guidance/advice. ● Some farmers will also provide FSAC with some planting materials

● Fisheries update

● Preparing a list of simple fishing gears to supply to coastal communities. ● Usage of some coastal resource are currently governed by strict rules with regards to their access (e.g. turtles, trochus) – working on amending these rules, while taking the necessary precautions to ensure sustainable use. ● Teams currently deployed around Efate to do assessments – extent of damage on boats.

● Forestry updates

● Message to farmers with nurseries - to save their plants and continue to provide shade and water.

● Pest and disease

● Steven Clegg from World Animal protection ● Step 1: rapid assessments around Efate

FOOD SECURITY AND AGRICULTURE CLUSTER

● Step 2: Detailed assessment ● Looking at animal feed and how farmers can secure this without compromising their food sources; providing shelter to animals; if animals injured, they need to be killed. ● Video resources (French / English / French) for awareness campaigns.

Next Meeting: Monday, 2pm at Department of Agriculture Research & Development (DARD)

Food Security and Agriculture Cluster meeting Participant list 20/03/15

Name Organisation Contact

James Roberts Pentecost Island Cyclone Relief 5919056 [email protected]

Steven Clegg worldanimalprotection 5469953

Sidney Suma PHAMA-Vanuatu [email protected]

Regianna Iakula Olafou Vanuatu/Tear Fund 5352296

Morry Ruben APTC/GIZ 5359526

Natasha Venables NDMO/Care 7775705

Michelle EcoFresh/Fruit + Vegetable Cluster 7737574 Prendergast Group [email protected]

Dan Demisez NOUGRO FARMS 5504132 [email protected]

FOOD SECURITY AND AGRICULTURE CLUSTER

Jessie Kampai Live&Learn 27455

Pauliane Basil Live&Learn

Anze

Sandrine Wallez ACTIV 5470172

Alice Barfield TEAR Fund [email protected]

Timothy McIntosh Timothy McIntosh 7769061

Gerard Ganaba WV 5551069

David Tosul MALFFB [email protected]

Richard Kalses MALFFB [email protected]

Emily Tumukon MALFFB [email protected]

Philemon Aka Forestry Department 5473376 7726670

Gwen Tari DARD 7786279

Joyce Chiles Samaritan’s Purse [email protected]

Domonique Blariaux FAO [email protected]

Hilary Dragicevic OXFAM [email protected]

Desirée Hetzel [email protected]

Nikita Solzer SPC-GIZ [email protected]

FOOD SECURITY AND AGRICULTURE CLUSTER

Emma Coll FAO [email protected]

Cristopher Bartlett SPC-GIZ [email protected] m

James Wasi MALFFB

John Freddy DARD 5989907

Howardn Aru MALFFB 7741902 [email protected]