Niue tries its hand at pineapples

Transcript

Niue is turning to pineapples in an effort to diversify its agriculture and support the tourism industry.  

The island doesn't have much of a history of producing pineapples for market but the Secretariat of the Pacific Community is looking to change that by assisting Niue in preparing disease-free and hardy fruit.

Technical Project Manager at Niue's Department of Agriculture,  Poi Okesene, told Koro Vaka'uta why it hasn't been a successful crop in the past.

POI OKESENE:  Probably due to the planting materials.  Not as many in terms of plant genetic resources.  At the time I don't think we had enough planting materials in place to be able to grow them.  I think people only them just behind the houses and not as looking into selling them at the time.  I think it was just for home consumption.

KORO VAKA'UTA:  We heard about this project with the SPC, how was this initiated?

PO:  One of our officers attended a plant genetic resources meeting in Fiji and at the time we also proposed that if we could get some more plant genetic resources in terms of pineapple tops that we'll be able to source from Fiji and also be able to grow in line with the tourism initiative at the moment.  The tourism sector is also growing.  I think we need to also expand the types of foods we have on the island, that we are able to cater for the restaurants and also the tourists that come to the island.

KV:  I understand this pineapple that the SPC will assist you with has been tested somewhat so it should be quite hardy is that right?

PO:  We haven't received them yet but I think they sourced them from Hawaii.  At the moment they're trying to get as many plants and their resources in place because they have to do it in a lab. They had to do tests and culture on them.  When they bring them it Niue, the planting materials will have to be in little bottles like in culture.

KV:  You mentioned this will help with the tourism sector in terms of providing for the accommodations and even the local market as well.  There is this move across the region to allow for more crops, diverse crops and also crops that are resilient.  Is this all part of that?

PO:  This is all part of the bigger picture of having to diversify, broadening the plant genetic resources on Niue in terms of fruits available on island and also because we import a lot of fruits from New Zealand.  It's part of the movement.  We need to expand and also to diversify the local food crops that we have on island.

KV:  Why was pineapple seen as such a feasible crop?  What is the attraction about pineapple?

PO:  Pineapple have proven in the past to be a good crop in terms of growing.  It suits our environment.  It's a crop that you don't need a lot of attention in terms of it doesn't need a lot of water.  There are very minimal pests that attack pineapple.  We are looking at receiving them maybe before October this year.