Project Overview
SW99-022
Project Type: Research and Education
Funds awarded in 1999: $85,134.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2003
Matching Non-Federal Funds: $182,505.00
Region: Western
State: Hawaii
Principal Investigator:
Clyde Fukuyama
HARC
Annual Reports
Commodities
- Agronomic: peanuts, sorghum (milo), soybeans
- Vegetables: sweet corn
Practices
- Crop Production: continuous cropping, cover crops
- Education and Training: demonstration, extension, farmer to farmer
- Pest Management: cultural control, sanitation
- Production Systems: general crop production
- Soil Management: green manures, organic matter
Abstract:
This project was intended to demonstrate a natural, sustainable farming system in a subtropical environment. Two farming sites were installed on the island of Oahu, one involving students of Waialua High School and the other on a commercial farm. The high school project was carried out as a learning experiment and had wider-reaching community and family impact than was at first envisioned. Students learned techniques of sustainable farming, outreach to the community, marketing, and family nutrition. The project is expected to continue after SARE funding ceases. The commercial growers followed the natural farming system in a one-acre site successfully for over two years. They then decided against continuing the project because of time and financial constraints.
Project objectives:
1. To establish a natural farming method suitable for Hawaiian growers.
2. To determine efficacy of the system for plant nutrition and in pest and disease managment.
3. To determine cost effectiveness and profit potential.
4. To determine sustainability of natural farming in Hawaii.
5. To educate Hawaiian growers in natural farming methods.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.