2003 Annual Report for FW01-028
Tu Eri Market Sakau Nursery (Recycling of Plant Discards and Animal Wastes)
Summary
OBJECTIVES
The project has two main objectives:
1. Develop a sustainable lowland sakau industry through the reuse of discarded plant parts
2. Develop alternative, sustainable enterprises by incorporating a sakau bar, sakau nursery and pig waste for composting
SUMMARY
The applicant, Kalistas Marquez, runs a sakau bar called Tu Eri Market, one of more than 30 around the island that prepare and serve this drink in cups or coconut shells. Tu Eri Market can accommodate 30 customers, 60 on rainless nights, and uses 50 to 100 pounds of fresh sakau a day. Marquez buys the sakau, cleans the stems and roots and pounds the canes to extract the liquid. The discarded residue contains as many as two nodes for every discarded branch (15 or so branches for every 50 pounds) that can be planted to produce more sakau. Previous attempts to plant the nodes had failed. Marquez hopes to show that the nodes can be planted into gro-bags and raised in the nursery. Marquez and his two sons hope to use the previously discarded nodes and manure from their pig operation to raise enough sakau for their own use, selling whatever is left.
Until 1982, sakau was raised in the lowlands, but a drought prompted growers to clear upland forests to grow the sakau where it would be less affected by drought. Meanwhile, sakau consumption has increased dramatically, prompting the clearing of more forests, which has reduced the forests from 42% of the island in 1975 to less than 15% today. The result has been reduced water quality, streams that dry up more quickly and increased erosion.
By successfully demonstrating that sakau can be produced in the lowland areas, the project could take large strides toward preventing the continued denuding of upland forests. In addition to the advantages of requiring less time and labor to manage and harvest and lower costs for transportation, the lowland sakau also has a stronger flavor preferred by consumers over the flavor of upland sakau. Indeed, respondents to a survey by The Nature Conservancy said they would be willing to pay more per pound of lowland sakau than upland sakau.
SPECIFIC RESULTS
Although the project was unable to produce quantities projected, in large measure because tropical storms slowed construction of the piggery and destroyed the roof on the nursery and sakau bar, the overall result was successful. The health of the planting material improved greatly, with nursery survival rates of 90% and field survival of 100%.
As a spin-off, Marquez has entered into an agreement with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to develop a conservation plan for the waste management system and to integrate piggery waste into traditional food crops and tree planting. Marquez also received a $300 grant from the Pohnpei Soil and Water Conservation District for the waste management component of the project.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS
Even at this early stage, farmers who visit the project have expressed interest. In terms of production, more planting materials will be available to the family and other farmers. Family production is expected to grow by 100% while farmers who receive planting materials from the project are likely to increase production by 50%. In the future, production is expected to increase further as others adopt the ideas and practices from this project. In addition, water quality in the vicinity of the project, including a stream and mangrove, should improve greatly.
FARMER ADOPTION AND DIRECT IMPACT
Many farmers had previously tried to start sakau in the nursery, but using pig manure is a new concept for them. Compared with chicken manure, pig manure is considered an unsanitary waste to be disposed of. In their day-to-day operations, it is recommended that farmers use pig manure from back-yard pigpens, which will have a direct impact on swine producers who normally dispose of the manure.
More than 10 farmers have approached the project coordinator and technical advisor expressing interest in the operation. All have inquired about funding sources.
RECOMMENDATIONS OR NEW HYPOTHESES
One bottleneck for the project was the conservative request for funding. More funds should have been requested for a farrowing pen and a larger nursery.
OUTREACH
As many as 500 people, including neighbors, agency personnel, experts and sakau bar customers, have visited or stopped by for a look-see at the nursery and piggery operations. An open house is being planned at the facility.