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 come to completion of its first year. The two thousand books of the English version had already been printed and have been delivered to us here in American Samoa. The Samoan translation of the book has been in progress and once the editing part is done it will be ready for the printing press.
Jim Encil Ferrell the consultant had travelled here in American Samoa for the official launching of the English version of the Vegetable Handbook. At the same time a workshop and outreach using the book for Agriculture Extension Agents, Department of Commerce, Department of Agriculture and Federal partners with Farm Service Agency and Natural Resource Conservations Service and local Farmers was held for a whole day. The distributions of the book took place after the workshops for the different Agencies, Organizations, Government Departments, and Individuals and off island partners that the committee identified to receive these books and feel will benefit from using the book.
At present, the books translations is ready for the last final editing and layout then will go to the print shop for printing targeting the 3rd week of this month of of September 2011.

Objectives/Performance Targets

YEAR 2 (2011)
Apr-May 2011 Handbook layout and printing contract finalization Samoa

June -Sept. 2011 Translation and proofing of Samoan text
Sept. 2011 Printing Press
October Launching of Samoan Version of the book
Year 2 workshop and handbook presentation in the Island of Manu’a, American

Accomplishments/Milestones

The launching of the English Version of the book is completed. Outreach and workshops for the identified Agencies, Agents, Department of the Government and the public was a very successful event. Distributions of the books to the identified Agencies, Public and the Schools have been completed as well. Copies of the book were sent to our networking partners in the mainland and the neighboring Islands. It has also been giving out to the many farmers visiting our office and to the organizations and schools. Copies of the book has also been sent to the main SARE office in Utah.

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 of they may be young men and women considering entry in to agriculture on a full or part-time basis.

Collaborators: