Organic farming promoted as key for vulnerable communities

Transcript

Organic farming is being touted as a key strategy in the fight against climate change in the Pacific.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community  and the Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community are behind the one-million US dollar initiative.

A group including IFAD sub-regional co-ordinator Sakiusa Tubuna, has just returned from the Cook Islands where they met with local farmers.

He told Koro Vaka'uta about the programme.

SAKIUSA TUBUNA: Yea, our target is to enhance the capacity of young farmers to use agriculture practices that are resilient to climate change. One of the practices that we have pioneered in some of the countries is the promotion of organic agriculture. And same time not only producing on organic but also ensuring that they would have standards at the same time that would meet, you know the market. So basically that is one of the tools that is going to be used. It is ensuring that whatever is produced is organically certified and fit for the market.

KORO VAKAUTA: So why are organics more resilient?

ST: Organics they do not use a lot of chemicals are also more to do with traditional agriculture practices that has been practiced in the olden days and there is a lot of evidence that are coming up that organic agriculture is more organic you know to climate change. They do not use a lot of chemicals they do not use a lot of inputs, they use local materials.

KV: Part of the program is engaging with the youth of these islands, how important is it to bring or to get the youth involved?

ST: Youths they will play in important role an important part in this project and what we have done is working with youth, our target is that we will have about 600 farmers that are linked to the enterprises and most of the programs that has been done in the Pacific mostly is identifying youths to be working in Agriculture but not you know linking them up, you know to really change on a sustainable basis. So I think this approach working with farmers, not only working on youth but also with producer organisations. Those people that will be buying the product  and ensuring you know the participation of youths so that they can sustainably develop, not only change, develop the products you know for this market.

KV: So after the initial visit what happens after that?

ST: We will be undertaking the relevant MOU signing with the organisations that will be involved in, producer organisations in getting this to start of. So after that then we will have the training to be undertaken but at the moment it is just assessing the needs and the capacity you know analysis of the various organisations that are there. Once we identify okay which organisations we are going to work with, the farmer groups then we have to sign one MOU with them and we will start with the training relating to the project. You visited the Cook Islands last week what is next what is happening now. The next steps will be also you know the visit to other countries also but not to undertake you know the similar sort of exercise and talking with farmers with youths and producer organisations and ensuring that we have the, you know, the full information with us.