The knowledge-sharing forum Pacific Solution Exchange (PSE) is moderating the e-discussion on behalf of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Land Resources Division (LRD). SPC-LRD has asked for the time extension to glean more ideas from people across the Pacific on ways to better support young farmers and overcome the perception farming is a job for ‘early school leavers’ and not a career.

Ms Maria Elder-Ratutokarua and Miriama Kunawave Brown of SPC-LRD in Suva said the great response to the e-discussion is providing plenty of feedback and also raising awareness of this important issue. The responses will help SPC-LRD document and share relevant lessons learned, experiences and case studies.

Today, the European Union and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) announce the signing of a new FJD 20 million (€8.6 million) European Union-funded regional project – the Pacific Agriculture Policy Project (PAPP) – to be implemented by SPC’s Land Resources Division (LRD).

This four-year project will be implemented across the 15 Pacific ACP countries: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Wednesday 17 October 2012, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva – A field guide on Fiji soils, their attributes to support plant growth, and information on soil fertility will be launched this Friday, 19 October, at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Nabua. The launch is facilitated by SPC Land Resources Division (LRD), which coordinated the production of the reference manual.

Fiji Minister for Primary Industries, Hon Joketani Cokanasiga, is the official guest and will launch this publication. Anyone working towards sustainable agricultural development will find it an invaluable framework for understanding and interpreting the soil resources of Fiji.

Posted on August 12, 2011 by RECOFTC

RECOFTC consultant Don Gilmour reviews David Lamb’s recent book.

Many organizations around the world have highlighted the plight of tropical forests during the past several decades. Efforts to improve the situation have generally revolved around introducing sustainable management of production forests and the protection of forest biodiversity through the establishment of networks of protected areas. In spite of these efforts tropical forests have continued to be degraded through a wide range of influences, including unsustainable commercial timber harvesting practices, clearing for agricultural and pastoral activities, and shifting cultivation.