Program A1: Agriculture Production Services

Objectives

• To increase domestic food production

• To ensure adequate production of raw materials for handicrafts, medicine, coconut products and other non-food production

Measures

• Increase in agricultural production across the Marshall Islands

• Corresponding decrease in consumption of imported goods

Background

• Agriculture Production Services essentially provides extension support for agriculture in the RMI. Of key relevance here is the Agriculture Sector Development Strategy and
  Action Plan for the RMI, developed with assistance from the ADB in 1997. This document outlines particular approaches to developing agriculture for the RMI and should be referred to while developing detailed action plans from this 5-year plan. 

Strategies

• Improving the technical skill of farmers through extension services including hands-on demonstrations, access to training courses and “how-to” publications.

• Increasing community participation in farming through demonstration plots, school gardens and by demonstrating the income generating potential of farming.

• Increase the participation of women in farming

• Implement sustainable farming systems

• Composting (link composting to business opportunity and solid waste management)

• Increased intensive production through integrating introduced crops to an existing farming system

• Promotion of livestock farming

• Increase domestic/ local trade in agricultural products

• Sustainable management of agro-forest resources, including replanting and rehabilitation, particularly of senile coconut trees.

• Focus on development of agriculture in outer islands

• Establish and maintain nurseries for preservation of genetic resources, supply to farmers as resources allow and for

Key Stakeholders and Partners

• FAO

• SSC

• SPC

• Farmers

• NGOs

• Women’s Groups

• Churches

• Schools

• Farmers’ Associations

Possible Issues/ Constraints

• Low capacity in agriculture and extension in terms of skill;

• Lack of inter-island transport by boat; and

• Degree of commitment of local governments and communities.

Program A2: Plant and Animal Protection Services

Objectives

• To prevent the introduction and further spread of injurious pests and diseases into and within the Marshall Islands.

• To safeguard agriculture and livestock , and also the Marshalls’ natural biodiversity.

Measures

• Incidence of injurious pests and diseases in the Marshall Islands (from survey)

Background

• The activities in Plant and Animal Protection Services are critical to the ongoing health of the Marshall’s extraordinary natural biodiversity, and its agricultural activities, as well as current and future export and trade activities.

• Plant and Animal Protection Services carry out quarantine inspections on all incoming aircraft and vessels to the Marshall Islands.

• It is essential that the Ministry of R&D maintains an internationally acceptable level and quality of activity. 

Strategies

• Inspections according to regulations;

• Eradication and control programs;

• Public education and awareness to:

• Increase awareness of bringing in pests and disease from overseas;

• Increase awareness of the spread of pests and disease between islands;

• Provide information on eradication and control procedures;

• Monitoring of fruit flies, mealy bug, coconut scale;

• Capacity-building; improve the identification of species the quarantine officers do not know;

• Develop response plans.

Key Stakeholders and Partners

• SPC  Plant Protection Micronesia Project

• FAO Pest Net

• RMI Ports Authority

• Airlines

• Importers and Exporters

• Ministry of Health

• Environment Protection Authority

• Community

Possible Issues/ Constraints

• Difficulty in accessing convenient transport for quarantine officers between Ebeye and
  Kwajalein for ports inspections.

Program A3:  Agriculture Policy and Planning

Objectives

• To develop policy and plans for the effective development of agriculture in the Marshall Islands.

Measures

• Agriculture development plan for RMI produced;

• Atoll-based development plans produced;

• Agricultural information available; and

• Long-term: Socio-economic impact on the population of the RMI.

Background

• An agriculture policy was developed in 1996 with the assistance of the Asian
  Development Bank. There is a need to develop capacity for agriculture planning, and to develop plans that are based on information. This program focuses on gathering
  information, developing national and local agriculture plans and ensuring that the
  institutional framework is conducive to agriculture development.

• There is also a need to improve work planning and data gathering within the agriculture division to increase the effectiveness of the Ministry’s activities in this area.

Strategies

• Improve agriculture information collection and management;

• Develop a national plan, and detailed plans for agriculture development on atolls based on the information;

• Build capacity in agriculture policy and planning; and

• Ensure legislation and government policy is conducive to the development of agriculture.

Key Stakeholders and Partners

• FAO

• SPC

• EPPSO

• Lands and Survey (Ministry of Internal Affairs)

• MEC

Possible Issues/ Constraints

• A major constraint is the current capacity for agriculture policy and planning within the Ministry.