South Pacific Agricultural News—Institute for Research, Extension & Training in Agriculture Span IRETA SPAN Vol. 41, No. 7 July 2016 ISSN 1015 - 950 SAFT at Laucala Campus won FBE Open Day Best Display Prize for 2016 he School of Agriculture and Food Technology’s (SAFT) 2016 Open Day booth was buzzling with activi- ties and students were drawn from exhibits to exhibits trying to capture the different aspects of agri- T culture in the limited time period that they were able to go through the marquee. This year, the theme of the SAFT’s Laucala Camp Booth was “Connecting the SAFT’s Agriculture Programme to the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) as one of our major employers”. The invitation was extended to the MoA and a number of Divisions: Crop Extension, Crop Research, Land Re- source Planning and Development and Animal Health and Production. Continued on page 2... Tafuna 1st Ward Youth ACIAR-USP Scholar- SAFT at Laucala Cam- Nusi Maualaivao Visit to SAFT and ships ...pg 10 pus won FBE Open Day IRETA ... pg 4 farm at Salei- Best Display Prize for moa ...pg 8 2016... pg 2 Strengthening Multi- CALL OUT for Sectoral Management of USP Labasa Campus AG273 and AG471 JOSPA Papers ...pg 11 Critical Landscape in Open Day & Solomon field trip to Ah-Liki Samoa Project trips ...pg Islands 38th Independ- Poultry and Pig 5 - 7 JULY IMAGES ...pg 12 ence Celebration ...pg 3 Farm ..pg 9 Editor in Chief : Mohammed Umar Publications Officer : Dolly Autufuga Email : [email protected] South Pacific Agricultural News Jul 2016 2 SAFT at Laucala Campus won FBE Open Day Best Display Prize for 2016 All were able to present their work to 2,060 students from 40 Secondary schools around Viti Levu, who went through the marquee. Both students and teachers, including some USP staff, walked away with the SAFT’s brochures along with MoA’s brochures for raising simple vegetable plots at home. The highlights, as usual, were our animals. Pigs were brought from Koronivia Livestock Research Station while the Fiji Fantastic Sheep were transported all the way from Nawaicoba Quarantine Station in Nadi. Secondary school stu- dents were fascinated with these animals and were keen to interact with and know more about them. The 2016 USP Open Day saw the School of Agriculture and Food Technology evolved from a two table booth, usually put alongside one of the major FBE Schools, to a 40 by 30 feet space that required two marquees. People talked posi- tively about SAFT’s presence at Laucala, praising the effort that was put towards this year’s open day. SAFT at Laucala plans to go bigger and better next year and introduce some very engaging activities that will involve stu- dents while at the same time attract their interests towards agriculture. Plans have started for next year Open Day, to include the rest of major employers both in the government and private sectors. Heartfelt thanks and appreciation goes to Director Crop Ex- tension (Mr. Jone Sovalawa), Director Crop Extension (Dr. Apaitia Macanawai), Director Animal Health and Production (Mr. Tomasi Tunabuna), Deputy Secretary Agriculture Devel- opment (Mr. Uraia Waibuta) and respective MoA staff who contributed towards our Open Day booth, especially those staff who spent the whole day with SAFT presentations. SAFT at Laucala also wants to thank the strong leadership and support of SAFT’s Head of School and every SAFT mem- ber that has been supporting them. South Pacific Agricultural News Jul 2016 3 USP Labasa Campus Open Day he USP Labasa Campus Open Day was held on the 29th of July 2016 at the Macuata Judicial Grounds in Labasa. The Open Day was graced with the presence of 25 sec- T ondary schools from the three provinces in the northern division of Fiji. Secondary schools from as far as Savusavu, Bua and Udu Point participated at this annual event with the total student numbers estimated to be in excess of 2,200. The distant schools were pri- oritised for the morning session of activities. The School of Agriculture and Food Technology (SAFT) was well represented under the Fac- ulty of Business and Economics. Student information sharing sessions together with poster and video presentations and competitions were the highlights of the SAFT booth with stu- dents being enlightened on the numerous and diverse career opportunities that exist within the scope of the programmes offered by the school. Students were also briefed about the eli- gibility and subject combinations that are required for entry into SAFT programmes. Alternative pathways of entry into SAFT programmes were also highlighted. In addition, the presence of SAFT staff at Laucala campus and the support services provided by them at other local campuses was emphasised on. Other ar- eas of deliberations included the modes of delivery of various courses, the practical components and the flexi schools. The day’s activities concluded with a debriefing session with the Labasa Campus Director at the campus. Solomon Islands 38th Independence Celebration n the 7th of July, USP Alafua Solomon Island students, celebrates their country’s 38th year of Independence. O It was truly a night of excitement as Solomon Island students prepared a variety of delicious Solomon dishes and a range of cultures from the different provinces in the Solomon Islands. The night started off with a welcoming speech from the President of the Solomon Islands Students Association (SISA), Mr. Luke Kiriau, followed by keynote address from Associate Professor Mohammed Umar, Head of SAFT and Director of IRETA, who was the guest speaker of the night. Mr. Umar talked briefly on Solomon Islands achievements and men- tioned that agriculture is one of the major sectors in Solomon Islands economy. Dinner was served after the cake cutting by the SISA President and Associate Professor Umar followed by Solomon Islands students’ cultural performances. South Pacific Agricultural News Jul 2016 4 Tafuana 1st Ward Youth Visit to SAFT and IRETA he Tafuna Youth from American Samoa visited the School of Agriculture and Food Technology (SAFT) and the Institute for Research, Extension and Training T in Agriculture (IRETA) Farm on the 13th of July 2016. The Tafuna Youth, between 12 to 17 years of age from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was lead by David Crichton, first Counselor to the Bishop with other leaders of the Youth. The Youth came to Samoa on a trip to the LDS Temple for one week and decided to visit and see for themselves what is happening at the School of Agriculture. They were welcomed by Mr. Daya Perera, Senior Technician of the Soil Laboratory and Ms Dolly Autufuga of IRETA. They watched a short video clip about what SAFT is all about and then visited SAFT and IRETA facilities after the morning breakfast provided by the school. The young teenagers were amazed at the facilities and opportunities available in the school. They learned about Soils and different activities that are carried out in the Soil laboratory. They were extremely excited when they visited the farm. It was the first time for most of them to see sheep and goats as well chickens that are kept solely for the purpose of egg production. They observed egg grading and other activities at the farm. David Crichton and leaders of the Youth gave their thanks to the School of Agri- culture especially to the Head of SAFT for the opportunity to come and visit. According the Mr. Crichton, it was a trip they will never forget. South Pacific Agricultural News Jul 2016 5 USP and MNRE staff survey on soil conservation and land management project on “Strengthening Multi-Sectoral Management of Critical A Landscapes (SMSMCL)” is currently being implemented by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) here in Samoa. The overall objective of the project is to strengthen and increase the capacities of the different national land development sectors to work together in a more integrated and coherent way at addressing the land degradation and soil conservation issues of the country, and de- veloping the means to achieve the culture of sustainable land man- agement practices both at the macro and national level of land man- Taro plantation at Aleisa agement policy and planning processes and at micro or local grass- roots level of land use technologies and practices. The consultancy services of The University of the South Pacific have been selected to lead the development of this manual and of how the manual will accompany and support local farmers’ sustainable land agriculture practices in the project target villages. USP and MNRE staff project interviewed farmers randomly and collected soil samples Chinese cabbages at Tanumalala from Upolu, Manono tai and Apolima tai on 26th – 29th of July 2016. On the 26th and the 27th, the project team went around Upolu and on the first day, the most common crops seen were breadfruit, taro, mango, cocoa and banana from Alafua to Leulumoega. A lot of taro plots, coconut and cocoa plantations were observed from Leulumoega Mixed cropping (vegetables) at to Lefaga. A huge taro plantation was seen at Aleisa east as well as Afiamalu cocoa, banana and coffee plantations along the way. On Day 2, huge plots of nonu plantations were seen at Siumu village where it is grown as cash crop. The main crops seem to repeat from the villages of Sagafou to Lotofaga. Lepa has a huge coconut plantation and going inland there was a vanilla plantation. Coastal area started from Lepa to Saleaumua. On one side is the sea and the other side is the cliff. This is Vanilla plantation at Lepa the area most affected by the Tsunami in 2009.