Final Report for EW07-002
Project Information
The Sustainable Fruit and Vegetable Production in American Samoa project has come to an end. Please read previous annual progress reports for a full picture of the project activities and accomplishments. The Samoan translation of the book has finally done and being printed for distributions. It has been a very challenging project for me and the committee. In the process of translating the book it was even harder as we thought. The translator had tried his best with the committee’s assistant in editing to decide which form of the Samoan Language should we use. Is it the common or the formal Samoan Language? Although we came across those problems, we finally managed to complete and moved forward with the project. At present the book is in its completion stage of printing. A workshop and outreach for personnel in Agriculture Extension, Department of Education, Department of Commerce, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture, and our United Stated Department of Agriculture partners - Farm Service Agency and Natural Resource Conservations Service and selected local farmers is plan for this month or beginning of the year. This workshop will also target the neighboring Island of Manu’a. Due to limited transportations between the two Islands the Committee are looking at the earliest possibility and will plan accordingly to the availability of other agencies whom are to come together to join this workshop. The distributions of the book will take place at the workshops. The Vegetable Handbook Committee has created a list of more than 30 agencies and organizations including the local farmers’ cooperative. Some off-island partners including the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and the University of the South Pacific in Samoa will also receive the publication. The Committee will be very selective of the audience because it’s in the Samoan Language.
YEAR 2 (2011) December 2011: Final Printing of Samoan Version December 29-Jan 2012: Workshop for Samoan Audience and Targeted agencies Manu’a Island
In the process of translating the book into the Samoan Language, we’ve came across some problems such as choosing who should be given the task. Although we have many experts in the Samoan Language, we were more lenient to someone with an Agriculture background so the terms use in the Samoan translations should be coherent with the English version. We were also looking at an easy vocabulary so the audience of all different ages would understand. With all that, we were able to find someone who’s not only an educator himself in both the English and the Samoan Language but a farmer who has so much knowledge of the language and Agriculture terms. He did a good job in translating the book. Once the book was translated another big task was ahead of the Committee and that was editing process and reviewing the literature itself. The Committee and the Board were debating and assessing and the language of the book and they’ve spent so much time in this process. Although, many choices and ideas were shared the Committee were able to come to a conclusion in many terms and able to finalized the translation. We weren’t thinking in would be this hard but it was a very good experiences for many of the Committee and Board members. Sharing ideas and their thoughts have helped a lot in getting this project done.
Cooperators
Education & Outreach Initiatives
Methods
Due to major transportation problems between the two Islands the plan has delayed but the Committee are still planning the workshop in the Samoan Language to take place in the neighboring Manu’a Islands which are the eastern-most remote island with significant population in the Territory. The local Agriculture professionals who presented for the Year 1 event will be responsible for the session on IMP and vegetable and fruit production because the off-island Project Manager will not be brought down for the final year of the project. The local NRCS staff and other professionals will be available as necessary to assist with the program delivery in the Samoan language. We will be working with the Office of Samoan Affairs and the mayors in the Manu’a villages in putting together this workshop. Customarily, the Agencies involve and the Committee won’t be allowed to conduct any workshop in a village setting especially the Manu’a Island if we do not follow protocol. We have to ask for permission through the Samoan Affairs office for approval before heading to Manu’a. The Committee and the Agencies representatives will work on all the proper protocols before making our way to the Islands. The training will be held in either the mayor’s residence or a church hall in the afternoon, after working hours where most of the village people will be available to attend. The Committee and the Agencies involved are very much looking forward to this event.
Outreach and Publications
The final printed copy of the book will be distributed to the targeted audience not only in the main Island Tutuila but Manu’a especially. Will also be doing outreach to villages, organizations and private sector and distribute the book for their use. We've done several outreach to schools and organizations and insert this Veg. Handbook and demonstrations in the many collaborative projects with other Agencies.
This book will not only benefit the Territory, the Pacific Islands who understand the Samoan language but producers and consumers in the Pacific region in general. This project will help develop the ability of agricultural professionals to provide up to date fruit and vegetable crop information and recommendations relating to sustainable agriculture. This project is targeted toward existing producers especially the non English speaking audience and farmers, as well as prospective producers and back yard gardeners. There may be those farmers who are currently producing only traditional crops that may find the book of interest or there may be young men and women considering entry in to agriculture on a full or part-time basis. The Samoan version of this book will play a major impact to the many children of this Territory. Not many books are translated into the Samoan Language as some people feel the children won’t understand it. On the other hand, many elders are working so hard to re-organize a strong curriculum of the Samoan Language and especially dealing with the land, sea and the environment. So, the Committee really feels this book will play a good role not only in the Agriculture in the classroom setting but as well in the families and the community and the generations to come. Not only to understand their native language but especially how our ancestors and farmers nurtured the land using their old methods as well as new methods for their better use.
Project Outcomes
The final Samoan Version of the book is completed. The Committee and the Agencies involve will be planning a workshop for the Manu’a Island and distribute the Samoan Version of the book to the many farmers and Ag. Agents in the Manu’a Island. We have built good relationships with many farmers and co-ops as we go through the process of translating this book. They have shared with us their expertise of the language and the many good ideas to better the translate the book.
Potential Contributions
This book will be a great contributions to the Agriculture Extension Agents within the ASCC Land Grant Program, Department of Agriculture, NRCS, Agriculture student majors in the Community College and Professor of the Agriculture field and especially the producers in enhancing and strengthening their knowledge not only in the theory but practical as well of growing vegetables and overcoming problems that will arises. The book will serve as a guide to them. This book is one of the easiest one to understand as the translator was working in bringing the translations into a simple language for a better understanding of anyone who will get to read and make use of it.
Future Recommendations
Hope there will be more similar projects coming in for SARE to funds, not only for the use of the English language but will also be good to use the native language of each country requesting for funding. A good way to keep their language survive and easier for each native people to understand. A great Fa’afetai to the SARE for the funds being allocated to American Samoa to complete this project.