Sustainable agricultural systems in the Pacific are coming under increasing pressure due to population growth. High population growth rates, unfavorable age structures and increasing urbanisation on islands with limited land and water availability are a reality in the atolls and have serious implications for these fragile ecosystems.
The lack of trained local technicians with skills in sustainable farming systems has resulted in promotion of inappropriate technology and further degradation of the resource base. In the high volcanic islands farmers are moving away from shifting cultivation, where soil fertility was maintained and erosion was, controlled, to cropping plots of land every year. This increase in the intensity of land use is resulting in deforestation, soil erosion, declining yields and a decline in household food security.
Other problems include increased crop damage from pests and diseases and poor agricultural information and extension services that lack sound technologies. The purpose of the project is to increase sustainable agricultural production of target farm families in participating countries.
This project complements the work to be commenced under the 7 & 8th EDF supported `Development of Sustainable Agriculture in the Pacific' project no. 8 ACP RPA 10 & 7 ACP RPR 782 & 8 PTF REG 04 to the six new Pacific ACP States of Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue and Palau.
Click on the flags below to view country profiles on the right.
