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

Summary

The Sustainable Fruit and Vegetable Production in American Samoa project has been a very challenging project for us here in the Territory. Because of early local management problems, computer crashes and ill health of the project manager, the development of the manuscript for the handbook has had setbacks. Getting it to the printing press was another setbacks but the committee together with our Private Consultant were able to get the ball rolling. The project is at its final part for the first year. Once the book is out of the printing press we will then go ahead with the planned outreach and educational programs and at the same time the translations of the manuscript in Samoan is still in process.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Year 1 (2009)
April – May Final editorial review in American Samoa
May-June Handbook Layout and Printing Contract Finalizations
June – July Printing and Workshop Planning
July-December Book at Printing Shop
October – Feb 2010 Translation in Samoan

Accomplishments/Milestones

As the first year of the project comes to its end, the Committee together with Jim Ferrell , our private consultant, has done the major part of the Vegetable Handbook and that is putting together the whole manuscript, the photos that go with it and the editing part. The Committee has worked closely with the local farmers in identifying the right vegetables that will grow best locally and especially looking at the economic value for the local farmers.
The book is now at the printing press for its first printing of the English version. After printing the consultant will bring it down and will work on the workshops and outreach using the book for Agriculture Extension Agents, and employees from Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Commerce, Department of Agriculture and Federal partners with Farm Service Agency and Natural Resource Conservation Service. It is also targeted toward existing fruit and vegetable producers, as well as prospective producers of these foods.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

This book will not only benefit the Territory, the Western Region 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, as well as prospective producers of these commodities. They may be those farmers who are currently producing only traditional crops or they may be young men and women considering entry in to agriculture on a full or part-time basis.

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