Project to improve fruit production in Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa Featured
Left to right: Tilafono David Hunter, Shalendra Prasad, Losaline Ma’asi, Professor Steven Underhill, Tim Martyn, Tuimaseve Kuinimeri Finau-Asora, Dr. Siosiua Halavata
17 June, 2016. A new Australian Government project, which aims to support expanded fruit production in Samoa, Tonga and Fiji, held its first meeting on Monday 13th June 2016 at the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (SROS).
Highlighting increasing horticultural regional collaboration, this workshop was attended by senior representatives from Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries of Tonga (Losaline Ma’asi), the Fiji Ministry of Agriculture (Shalendra Prasad), Pacific Community (SPC) (Dr. Siosiua Halavatau), UN-FAO (Tim Martyn), the University of the Sunshine Coast and The University of Queensland (Professor Steven Underhill), and SROS (Tilafono David Hunter and Tuimaseve Kuinimeri Finau-Asora).
According to Professor Underhill, “Fruit production in the Pacific represents less than 10% of the overall horticultural output, despite favourable climates, increasing market opportunities, and important human health benefits. While there is a lot of research to be undertaken, we recognise the critical importance of the Samoa Government and our partners at the Fiji Ministry of Agriculture and the Tonga Ministry of Agriculture.
This workshop agreed to a series of important steps to better support Pacific fruit farmers, with SROS taking on a leadership role in developing and testing new postharvest technologies to better support emerging sea-freight export opportunities in Samoa”.
This new ACIAR-funded project will support the development of resilient tropical fruit value chains in Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga; based on the five regionally significant fruit crops: papaya, pineapple, mango, breadfruit, and citrus.
“While SROS will lead the development of new postharvest horticultural technologies, we anticipate a strong partnership with our Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, especially around targeted training and capacity building of local extension officers, and primary production activities on pineapples and papaya” said Tilafono David Hunter, Chief Executive Officer of SROS.
During the workshop, attendees were briefed on proposed research to increase production and postharvest efficiency of pineapple in Samoa, Fiji and Tonga; research to improve domestic mango production in Fiji, and effort to re-build the Tonga domestic citrus industry. The workshop attendees were also advised on potentially groundbreaking research that seeks to develop low-grow breadfruit trees that could be more cyclone tolerant and easier to harvest.
Importantly, this initiative has been designed to further support parallel postharvest horticultural research currently funded by FAO that aims to reduce food loss in Samoa and improve farmer profitability.
SPC
