Special Program: “Farmers Markets” on Majuro and Ebeye

Objectives

• Establishment of Farmers Markets in the Urban Centers of Majuro and Ebeye to encourage production and sale of locally grown and processed food and goods.

Measures

• Markets are established

• Number of producers participating in the market

• Number of consumers participating in the market

• Value of goods exchanged in the market

Background

• A “farmers’ market” is a place where local people can come together and sell their local produce- fruit and vegetables, and also fresh fish and locally processed foods such as preserved Pandanus, roasted breadfruit and fish jerky.  It can also be a place to sell handicrafts or clothes.  For the consumers in the local community, it will be a place to buy local, fresh and healthy foods, as well as a gathering and meeting place.

• Development of such markets will help achieve several development objectives for the Marshall Islands including import replacement, healthier diets, increased self-reliance and income-generating opportunities for the community.

• Previous attempts have been made to establish such a market.  A building was established several years ago near the Ministry building and was subsequently appropriated for other uses.  The Ministry of R&D has highlighted this “Farmers’ Market “ program as a special focus area.  Its cross-cutting nature requires that resources be allocated from various departments in the Ministry, and also requires that the Ministry work in close cooperation with Farmers Associations, Local Governments and the private sector to establish a sustainable activity.

Strategies

• Facilitate the establishment of a fixed location for the market, with access to shelter, tables, water for cleaning and administration of market fees;

• Encourage private sector involvement in the market in terms of ownership or management;

• Facilitate the participation of existing and new local producers;

• Facilitate access to transport and local agents for outer islands producers to sell their produce or goods at the market;

• Cooperate with MIMRA to include sale of fish at the market;

• Ensure post-harvest handling is done in accordance with food safety principles.

Key Stakeholders and Partners

• Farmers, manufacturers, producers

• Laura Farmers Association

• Handicrafts Association

• MIMRA

• Majuro and Kwajalein Local Governments

• Private sector investors, owners and/ or managers

Possible Issues/ Constraints

• This program requires cooperation and coordination with a range of stakeholders and will require engagement of a party (not the Ministry) to establish and manage permanent market sites.

Special Program: Coconut “Tree of Life” Development

Objectives

• To increase the value of coconuts and coconut products to the Marshall Islands;

• To reduce dependence of outer islands on imported fuel and copra subsidies; and

• To develop value-added coconut products for export.

Measures

•  Increase in real value of coconuts and coconut products to the Marshall Islands (economic assessment)

•  Increase in use of coconut products on-island

•  Increase in income or equivalent income for outer island communities ( for example, if fuel costs are reduced, this can be considered equivalent income)

• Decrease in subsidy payments from government

Background

• Since the 1850’s the Marshall Islands have been involved in Copra production, and the atolls are widely planted with coconut trees.  This is one of the most underutilized resources and an integrated approach to the development of coconut resources in the RMI has the potential to have a positive impact on the living standards of outer islanders while reducing the reliance on government subsidies for copra.

• The extraction of coconut oil can be decentralized and carried out on outer islands at relatively low cost.  The oil can then be used to run electricity generators (at significantly lower cost than solar power), diesel vehicles and outboard motors.  Electricity from the generator can be used to drive high-power machines such as refrigerators, irrigation pumps and power tools, thus opening up a range of income-generating opportunities.

• All of this provides opportunity to increase subsistence and surplus production of fisheries and agricultural products.

• Coconut oil can also be used directly for cooking, or to develop value-added products such as beauty creams and oils.

• While parts of the coconut tree are already used for handicrafts, there are other parts whose economic value can be explored, such as the timber from the large population of senile trees (at the end of their productive life), and high-quality, high-value charcoal production from the coconut shell.

• It is a particularly exciting possibility for Outer Island Electrification using a renewable energy source. (See Program D1:  Outer Island Electrification).

• The Ministry of R&D highlights the “Coconut Value Chain Development” as a high priority program with the potential to have a real impact on the quality of life in the outer islands.  It is a cross-cutting program which requires allocation of resources from all departments in the Ministry; Agriculture, Trade and Business Development and Energy, as well as strong partnerships with many other stakeholders. 

Strategies

• Establishment of a Multi-Agency Project Team;

• Rehabilitation and replanting of coconut trees;

• Value-added production  and use of coconut products on outer islands, therefore reducing costs and losses from inter-island transport;

• Refocus the coconut industry from copra-export to value added products and local use in fuel, cooking oil, livestock feed, and other uses;

• Complete assessment of economic value chain to see areas where development should be focused;

• Facilitation of access to small-scale processing equipment and access to credit for purchase of equipment;

• Examination of different value added products for export potential; and

• Focus on development of coconut value-chain on outer islands. 

Key Stakeholders and Partners

• All divisions of R&D: Agriculture Services, Trade, Investment and Business Services and
  Energy Services
• Tobolar, PII
• SOPAC
• WAM (for possible uses of timber)
• FAO
• SPC
• APCC
• USDA Forestry Service

Possible Issues/ Constraints

• These activities requires cooperation and coordination of a wide range of stakeholders and will also require strong political support to maintain the focus.