Expanding Small-scale Sustainable Agroforestry Demonstration Plots in the Western Pacific

View the project final report

Commodities

Practices

• Crop Production: agroforestry, conservation tillage, crop rotation, fertilizers, multiple cropping, nutrient management, shade cloth, water management
• Education and Training: demonstration, display, extension, farmer to farmer, networking, technical assistance, workshop, youth education
• Farm Business Management: farm succession, whole farm planning
• Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity, carbon sequestration, drift/runoff buffers
• Pest Management: competition, field monitoring/scouting, mulches - general, sanitation
• Production Systems: agroecosystems, holistic management
• Soil Management: organic matter, soil quality/health
• Sustainable Communities: community services, ethnic differences/cultural and demographic change, local and regional food systems, partnerships, social networks, sustainability measures

The demand for locally grown agricultural products continues to rise and the need for food security is a given in the Micronesian region. Majority of agricultural producers in the region lack the knowledge of the development and management of sustainable agroforestry farming.  Small-scale agroforestry systems were once dominant throughout the islands of the Western Pacific.  This tradition is slowly declining.  Along with traditional methods, modern innovative practices and a wider variety of fruits and vegetables can be revived.  Isolated islands contain fragile and limited natural resources, particularly water and soil. These natural resources need to be protected, enhanced and sustained to ensure long-term viability for agroecosystems. It is important to understand the parameters of developing and sustaining such agroforestry systems. The expected outcome of this proposed project is to educate, increase skills and knowledge of agricultural professionals and producers on developing and managing sustainable agroforestry systems. This project aims to: (1) Enhance and maintain an existing model agroforest system at the University of Guam and develop new agroforestry systems or improve existing agroforestry system owned and operated by 1 or 2 local producers. (2) Conduct on-site workshops on each site focusing on the development and management of the integrated small-scale sustainable agroforest system at each respective site that have participated in the grant. The maintenance and improvement of the existing UOG demonstration model agroforest system, will expand to participating cooperator(s) emphasizing on practicality and feasibility, and focusing on ready-available resources of each island.  Development of online ready-available outreach material and the conducting of workshops will further extend the knowledge and resources of sustainable agroforestry throughout the islands of the Western Pacific.

1. The primary objective of this proposed project is to build agriculture professionals’, producers’, and the general public’s skills and knowledge of developing and managing a sustainable small-scale agroforestry system. Participants will understand the importance of growing food to enhance food security. They will learn traditional and modern agroforestry concepts and conservation practices that aim to optimize plant production in small, manageable areas while sustaining and enhancing natural resources, particularly soil and water.
2. The second objective is to further educate agriculture professionals, producers, and the general public of the potential of the profitability of small-scale agroforest systems. A highly productive agroforest system can result in surplus food that can turn into monetary profits for growers thus improving livelihoods of producers and meet some of the demands of locally produced foods, leading to an increase in local economies.
3. The third objective is to continue to promote and emphasize the importance of sustainable agriculture throughout the region and how consuming locally grown produce leads to healthier lifestyles, maintain traditional cultivation knowledge and adopt modern cultivation methods that sustain soil and water quality for current and future generations.