Sustainable Fruit and Vegetable Production in American Samoa: Protecting Your Health and the Health of Your Land with Integrated Pest Management and Soil Conservation

Sustainable Fruit and Vegetable Production in American Samoa: Protecting Your Health and the Health of Your Land with Integrated Pest Management and Soil Conservation

Accomplishments/Milestones

Project Report
January, 2008

Title: Sustainable Fruit and Vegetable Production in American Samoa: Protecting Your Health and the Health of Your Land with Integrated Pest Management and Soil Conservation

Number: EW07-002

Recipient: American Samoa Resource Conservation and Development Council

Contacts: Programmatic Contacts:

Paul Van Ryzin, RC&D Coordinator
684-633-1031
paul.vanryzin@pb.usda.gov

After February 14, 2008:

Wallace Jennings, District Conservationist
684-633-1031
wallace.jennings@pb.usda.gov

Financial Contacts:

Crystal Teo, Administrator
684.633-1031
crystal.teo.rcdcouncil@gmail.com

Imo S. Tiapula, Chairman, RC&D Council
684-644-1061
itiapula@yahoo.com

Progress: Delays in implementation of this project arose in late 2007, when the individual named in the project proposal as the Project Assistant left the area unexpectedly. There were also unforeseen obligations on the part of the Project Director, Mr. James Ferrell, who remains in the role of Project Director.

Despite these issues, the recipient organization, in partnership with the American Samoa Soil and Water Conservation District, have appointed representatives to the Project Management Committee, the entity empowered by both organizations to manage funds for the project. These appointees were selected during the regular proceedings of the RC&D Council and SWCD meetings in November and December, 2007.

At present, the Project Management Committee consists of two appointees from SWCD, one appointee from RC&D Council and two appointees from the American Samoa Community College-Land Grant, including the Agriculture Extension agent and the College’s Entomologist.

The following are the Project Management Committee members:

Paulo Silao, SWCD/ AS Department of Agriculture
Sosene Asifoa, Eastern District Farmer, SWCD Appointee
Taimane Johnson, Western District Farmer, RC&D Appointee
Alfred Peters, AS Community College, Extension agent
Mark Schmaedick, AS Community College, Entomologist

Following discussions with the Project Director, Mr. James Ferrell (located in Hilo, Hawaii), a new Timeline was devised for Year 1 project activities. The new Timeline is as follows:

1. Project Management Committee (PMC) recruits and selects new Project Assistant, January-February.
2. PMC convenes to prepare for J. Ferrell’s first visit, March.
3. J. Ferrell, Project Director, visits AS for one week, hosted by PMC. Conducts farm visits, interviews farmers, research, etc.
4. First Draft of Handbook Produced, Mid June.
5. Printing of first edition of manual (English), Mid August
6. J. Ferrell visits AS for one week, to lead workshops and distribute manuals.

Financial data:

No funds have been drawn down to date. Dr. Rasmussen, Jeff Coleman, and Kristi Jensen authorized an advance of approximately $1,000 on December 14, 2007. These funds would be used to post advertising to recruit the new Project Assistant, and/or book the flight for J. Ferrell’s first visit to American Samoa.

Collaborators: