18.07.14 Nepal

1. Pacific Island Farmer Organisation Network 18.07.14 Nepal

2. Where are we??? MTCP II Launch

3. Farmer Organisations in the Pacific Farmer organisations in the Pacific Islands are a rarity compared with other parts of the world. There is no real history of farmer organizations in the Pacific. Briefing to South Asia SRSC - Nepal

4. Why the lack of farmer organisationsin the Pacific ? Historically heavy government involvement in extension and commodity marketing which has stifled the development of effective farmer organizations. Briefing to South Asia SRSC - Nepal

5. The need for farmer organizations in Pacific islands? AN OVER ARCHING THEME: EMPOWERING RURAL PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES Briefing to South Asia SRSC - Nepal

6. Some specific areas and examples of the work of farmer organisations in the Pacific Improving the linkages between small commercial farmers and produce marketers - The Vanuatu Farm Support Association (FSA)’s Spices Network MTCP II Launch

7. Facilitating the supply of high quality planting material The Samoa Farmers Association (SFA)supplying Tahitian lime germplasm; FSA and KGA improved root crop germplasm distribution projects and production of open pollinated vegetable seed by KGA; NWC certified papaya seedproduction project. MTCP II Launch

8. Promotion of farm management and business training - Tutu Rural Training Centreon Taveuni, Fiji • The promotion of sustainable commercial farming systems - TeiteiTaveuni’s soil schools; and FSA vetiver grass programme • Advocacy of farmer requirements to Ministries of Agriculture and other agencies - NWC negotiations on the national airline air freight configuration Briefing to South Asia SRSC - Nepal

9. Challenges for Pacific FOs • National FOs are small and still developing their communication and management capability. • Income needs to be generated at the level of the farmer organisation to cover overhead costs and to enable the organisation to become self-sustaining. • Pacific Island FOs need to become more “professional” and run along business lines if they are to be sustainable. Briefing to South Asia SRSC - Nepal

10. Who is PIFON? Pacific Island Farmer Organisation Network (PIFON) Briefing to South Asia SRSC - Nepal

11. Who is PIFON? Network of farmer organisations that has been operating informally since 2008. Formally registered in 2013 by eighteen (18) foundation national FOs, from six (6) Island countries MTCP II Launch

12. Who is PIFON? PIFON is intended to serve as an umbrella organisation for national FOs to: • coordinate capacity building • share success stories and the lessons learnt • support regional exchanges of expertise between FOs and their associated private sector and donor agency partners. Briefing to South Asia SRSC - Nepal

13. Sub Regional Implementing Agency for MTCP II MTCP II Launch

14. National Implementing Agencies (NIAs) for MTCP II project Briefing to South Asia SRSC - Nepal

15. 2014 Work Plan – USD 134,000 • Regional exchanges of expertise between farmer organizations and their associated private sector partners. 5 in year 1. • Technical advisor assisting with preparation of strategic and financing plans to enhance sustainability. 3 in year 1. • Developing profiles for member FO's. For all members. • Assistance to national FO in the professional write up lessons learnt and experiences. 3 in year 1. Briefing to South Asia SRSC - Nepal

16. 2014 Work Plan – USD 134,000 • Technical advisor assisting members in the preparation of funding proposals. 3 in year 1. • Representation for PIFON and national FOs at regional and international forums. 5 in year 1. • Production of policy briefs for FOs. 3 in year 1. Briefing to South Asia SRSC - Nepal

17. Examples of technical exchanges • Papaya and off-season pineapple expertise from Fiji travelling to Samoa to work with the Samoa Farmers Association on improved production practices. • Soil conservation and improvement expertise (Vanuatu Farm Support Association) travelling to Fiji to work with Tutu Rural Training Centre and TeiteiTaveuni on improved practices of ally cropping and cover cropping. • Micro food processors from the Solomon Islands (KastomGaden and Jedom) travelling to Fiji to work with FRIEND on improved solar drying and other technologies. Briefing to South Asia SRSC - Nepal

18. Examples of lessons learnt publications • Assistance to TTT with the professional write-up of experience with soil schools and research into biological farming practices. • Technical assistance to FSA with the initial stages of a write-up of lessons learned from the Vanuatu Spices Network. Briefing to South Asia SRSC - Nepal

19. Examples of policy briefs • Feasibility study on removing VAT from farm input importation by FOs in Fiji.   • The effectiveness of farmer organisations in agriculture research and extension. Briefing to South Asia SRSC - Nepal

20. Regional study Regional scoping study and project design related to: “Utilizing farmer organisations to improve the access to high quality seed for Pacific island farmers ” MTCP II Launch

21. Regional learning exchange Learning exchange in Taiwan with FOs, NGOs, universities and commercial seed producers on open-pollinated and hybrid seed production. Briefing to South Asia SRSC - Nepal

26. www.pacificfarmers.com MTCP II Launch

27. Conclusion The platform has been set in the Pacific to support farmer organisations and their members with a set of activities that have been developed by the farmer organisations themselves. With further support we can expand these activities to support more farmers in our region. Briefing to South Asia SRSC - Nepal