The Pacific and the Brussels Declaration Output 1.4 Traditional knowledge preserved, enhanced, utilised and acknowledged Traditional farming systems in PICTs, and their related best practices have proven sustainable in maintaining food security and productivity of natural resources. a.
CEAARD is documenting sustainable food production systems, and food preservation and utilisation methods for atolls.
b.
LRD is supporting the compilation of traditional cooking recipes in several countries to help promote the consumption of local foods.
c.
LRD is conducting training in FSM, Palau and RMI on food processing and cooking of traditional root crops. CEAARD is evaluating breadfruit and pandanus processing.
d.
Progress was made on the revival of tigaso tree oil tapped from rainforest trees of the genus Campnosperma spp. with the establishment of a nursery, and support was provided to villagers to tap the trees in the jungles near Lake Kutubu, PNG. NARI is testing the natural tree oil for potential use as an organic pesticide. A cultural event to promote the preservation of traditional knowledge and use of the oil in traditional dancing is under discussion.
e.
LRD is working with the Fiji Islands MPI in assembling traditional knowledge relating to climate change adaptation and promoting crop diversity on Viwa Island in the Yasawas. This activity is part of a climate change adaptation project in collaboration with the Pacific Community-focused Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction Project.
f.
LRD collaborated with NARI in PNG in conducting an on-farm conservation survey in the Kairuku-Hiri district of Central Province. The survey focused on collecting baseline information about food crop diversity and animal genetic resources maintained by farmers. The survey was the second part of a study; the first part was conducted in 2005.
g.
LRD has documented the work of the Kastom Gaden Association in Solomon Islands. A DVD vividly portrays the indigenous communities using environmentally friendly farming practices in addition to the plant material network.
The ACP/EU Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) held an international seminar on the “Role of the media in agricultural development in ACP countries (West, Central, East and Southern Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific)”. The seminar was held in Brussels, Belgium between 12 and 16 October 2009 and it aimed to contribute to the preparation of strategies for media capacity building with regard to access and dissemination of information on key issues for the ACP agricultural sector; strengthen communication links between the media and the agricultural sector; and to contribute to the identification of media support programmes The seminar provided a platform to discuss challenges, problems and hindrances in highlighting ARD in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Experiences were shared, models were presented and issues regarding the need to promote information and communication technology (ICT) were highlighted. Discussions made reference to the problems that farmers and rural dwellers face. An important lesson learned is the need to involve the people who will be affected by this information on agriculture and rural development. The final document – the Brussels Declaration – is a guide and a statement of commitment from the ACP countries. It is a living document and a testimony of the efforts stakeholders in ARD and the media intend to make. What will still be required is a reminder of these commitments and of the progress made, as well as a record of efforts to give ARD issues the recognition they deserve. The Brussels Declaration looked at ‘the critical importance of agriculture in the development of ACP countries given that two-thirds of their population live in rural areas and depend largely on agriculture for their livelihoods. However, the agricultural sector and rural population do not not have sufficient recognition in the ACP media. And the information which they do receive may not be sufficiently relevant to their diverse needs.’ It went on to say that the media’s role is important in overcoming obstacles to innovation, productivity and the sustainability of the agricultural sector and rural livelihoods. ‘The media includes journalists and communicators working at local, national, regional and international levels using a range of An overarching observation and recommendation from the seminar was the need to build the capacities of the media, agricultural producers and their organisations, researchers, scientists and universities, national governments and regional institutions. The declaration calls on donors and ACP development partners and the private sector to invest in ARD and emphasise information sharing and partnerships. LRD • ANNUAL REPORT • 2009
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