PACIFIC YOUTHS IN AGRICULTURE

Secretariat of the Pacific Community Initiatives

PAFPNet The Pacific Agriculture and Forestry Policy

Network (PAFPNet) is a network of members from different organization and is owned by all the members.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community acts as the secretariat.

Supported by CTA. The aim of the network is to facilitate

communication, information dissemination, capacity building and enhance awareness of issues related to agriculture and forestry policy.

Promotes open and constructive dialogue and encourages information exchange and activity coordination.

INTRODUCTION

Agriculture is not an occupation that comes with a desk, PC, and a comfortable fallback chair. No, Agriculture is so much better than this, it comes with a connection, to our ancestors, to the earth, and most importantly, and too often overlooked, to the very core of human survival – EATING.

Alana Tukuniu – Niue

THE TRUTH

Not all children would want to become farmers in the future.

ISSUES

• It is already known that farming is often regarded as a fall-back option

• “From a young age we have been programmed to think that a job in town or a job in an office is the ultimate aim”.

• Aging number of farming population

CHALLENGES

1. Youth Unemployment 2. Rural – Urban Migration 3. ‘Hierarchical village structure’ - where very little importance is given to the

opinions of youth!!- Access to Land4. Capital Investment 5. Skills 6. Decision making, taking risks, innovative7. Support from people in power

PACIFIC YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE STRATEGY 2011-2015

CASE STUDIES

Mainstreaming of Rural Development Innovations (MORDI) Programme under the Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific International

- Follows participatory approaches .- Hierarchical village structure- With much hard work from the MORDI team the results

have been clearer in Communities esp. in Vanua Levu in Fiji.

The Marist Training Centre in Tutu, Taveuni, FijiDesigned in a way to attract young men and women to be independent and to be innovative at the same time.

- The agenda or the syllabus comes from the people in their home situation.

- Entrance requirement for Tutu college

3. Island Food Community in Pohnpei – schools developed a song about the ‘Banana Varieties’

4. FRIEND - ‘Foundation of Rural Integrated Enterprise and Development initiative “To sow seeds of improved food security in low income areas”

5. Tonga National Youth Congress (TNYC) – Future Organic Famers of Tonga

Other Initiatives

YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE INNITIATIVE IN SPC

• Pacific Youth in Agriculture – Discussion on Projects set up to concentrate primarily on Agriculture

• Agriculture Show – Young Farmers Awards, Equipment for Schools

• ICT Components – Web 2 tool training and Yobloco competition (ARDYIS)

What’s being done to encourage young people to take up farming

as a career?

WAY FORWARD

• Support youths at an individual level • Youth Champions • Integrate Agriculture to School programmes• Bridging of gap btwn younger and older

farmers• Shareholders• Addressing Environmental concerns • Project – set up to primarily concentrate on

Youth in Agriculture

CONCLUSION

“Do not think of farming only as a money earner. Agriculture is much more than this, and it’s this understanding that will help young farmers through the tough times. We now live in a cash economy, and we need income, but as a farmer we are contributing so much more. Agriculture is instrumental in keeping our culture alive, in addressing climate change issues, health issues and in preserving the environment.”

Alana Tukuniu – Niue

Thank you and Many thanks to CTA for this opportunity.

Vinaka Vakalevu.