Agroforestry training in Fiji is increasing the knowledge and capacity of farmers to improve food, nutrition and income security as well as improve their resilience to climate change while conserving biodiversity.

Pacific Island News Association reports on a recently conducted training program focusing on agroforestry concepts, plant propagation, nursery management and the establishment of agroforestry farms.

Participants from the departments of agriculture and forestry, NGOs and farmers/tree growers gained skills in grafting and marcotting techniques and how to transplant tissue cultures. They also learnt about contour farming techniques and how trees can be incorporated into integrated farming systems.

Host farmer, Charles McCay, said the training helped farmers to think strategically and take more interest in agroforestry as a model for sustainable farm development. A model farm has been established on McCay’s land with different combinations of crops and trees being trialed on flat and sloping land.

Indigenous tree species such as Dakua (Agathis macrophylla) and Vesi (Intsia bijuga) have been planted on the top of the slope, with trees of economic value, such as sandalwood, planted alongside citrus and other fruit trees in the middle of the slope. Crops such as taro, pigeon pea, okra, cowpea, water melon, eggplant and capsicum have been planted at the base of the slope.

The training was conducted by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Land Resources Division, supported by the United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) Global Environment Fund.

Read the full story: SPC Conducts Agroforestry Training in Northern Fiji