Tuesday, 18 August 2015

Rice Demonstration Plot

Children weeding rice plot, Middlebush Tanna (May 2015)

Yam Trial Plot at Middlebush, Tanna (2015)

Yam trial plot at Middlebush Tanna. T= Non-staking vs Staking  

Evaluating yield
Yam Harvest


Yam demonstration plot harvested

Poultry & Piggery Farmers, Middlebush Tanna

Middlebush Farmers who attended training on poultry improvement & pig silage making received their materials
(February 2015)

Sweet Potato Field Day, May 2015, Sama Villlage, North Efate

NARI - EU ARD PROJECT OVERVIEW

BACKGROUND:
Collaborate Project involving four partner and ten associate institutions across PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu in Support of Smallholder Agriculture for climate change adaptation. A five year Project financed by the European Union.

OBJECTIVES:
Overall objective is to mitigate climate change associated risks to food security and livelihoods for vulnerable smallholder farming communities in Western Pacific Countries – PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

The specific objective is to improve the food production capacity of smallholder farming communities in areas where precipitation deficits and/or excesses and soil salinity problems are becoming significant threats to agricultural production and productivity.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES:
- Rural surveys, participatory site appraisals.
- Develop and pilot strategies for water and soil management and conservation.
- Screen, evaluate and test sweet potato and other stress tolerant crops; identify improved seed supply mechanisms.
- Assess potential for diversifying livestock assets and demonstrate improved approaches.
- Promote internet discussion forums on R&D; establish multi-stakeholder forums.

TARGET CONSTRAINTS:
- Extreme scarcity of rainfall (drought)
- Excessive soil moisture (floods, water logging)
- Worsening soil and water salinity (from sea water inundation of agriculture land)

TARGET BENEFICIARIES:
About 100 smallholder farmers per site at 11 sites:
- 500 households in PNG
- 300 households in Solomon Islands, and
- 300 households in Vanuatu

Eventually a total of 2.4 million smallholders crop-livetstock mixed farmers in the three countries.

VANUATU PROJECT SITES:
1. Malafau, North Efate
2. Siviri, North Efate
3. Middlebush, Tanna

CONDUCT DETAILS:
Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (DARD), PMB 9040, Port-Vila, Tabage. Tel: +678 5334020 / +678 33550

Mr. Antoine Ravo
Project Sub-Coordinator for Vanuatu
Ph#: +678 7719951