pleted the deployment of the three FAD anchors on March 8, 2012. Fisheries staff are currently monitoring the three anchors to determine if FAD system is ready to sup-port fishing activities.

As reported in the previous issue of DREA newsletter, DREA under-went the process of establishing a Fish Aggregating Device System during the latter part of 1st and early 2nd Quarters, FY2012, with the as-sistance of FAD Specialist from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Mr. William Sokimi.

Funded by a Japan Grassroots Grant, the FAD system consists of three anchor blocks deployed to three locations island-wide: 1) Okat Bay, 2) Sauksa, and 3) Utwe Bay. The FAD system would substantially cut fishing costs. With the assistance of Mr. Sokimi, staff from the Division of Fisheries and Marine Resources (FMR), DREA successfully com-

FISH AGGREGATING DEVICE SYSTEM COMPLETED, UNDER MONITORING

DR. ELDON HAINES PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO DREA DREA once again welcomed the assis-tance of its good friend, Dr. Eldon Haines. Dr. Haines was in Kosrae for about three weeks, from February to March 2, 2012.

The purpose of Dr. Haines’ trip to Kos-rae was to provide expertise assistance to programs under DREA. Although DREA in general reaped benefits from Dr. Haines services, two programs pre-dominantly benefited from Dr. Haines’ services: Kosrae Home Improvement Program (KHIP, or commonly referred to as Housing); and the Kosrae Microfi-nance Union (KMU).

Interestingly, as stated by the Adminis-trator for the Division of Trade & In-vestment Mr. Stanley Raffilman, the trip was not Dr. Haines’ first to Kosrae. More importantly, this was also not the first time Dr. Haines had helped Kos-rae. It came to light that the idea of es-tablishing a micro-finance union was derived from Dr. Haines. The idea of establishing a micro-finance union came to fruition and is what we now know as the Kosrae Microfinance Union (KMU). During his trip, Dr. Haines was able to create a financial recording and report-

Phone: 370-2044/3017

DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCES & ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

Email: dres@mail.fm

Quarterly Newsletter

ISSUE 2: 2ND QUARTER, FY2012

L-R: KMU Executive Manager Kiaru Esahu & Dr. Eldon Haines

Photos: Top Right: On deployment, Josia Talley , Freddy Nena & William loading FAD anchor onto “Sinlaku” Bottom Left: William Sokimi directing loading of FAD equipments Bottom Right: Anchor dropped off at anchor location.

Cont’d on page 3...

The Department of Resources & Eco-nomic Affaires held five (5) workshops for farmers in the second quarter of FY2012. Initially planned by the Divi-sion of Agriculture and Land, with collaboration from the Division of Trade and Investment, DREA staff visited and held workshops in the five (5) respective villages in the State: Utwe, Malem, Lelu, Tafunsak and Walung.

The series of workshops was held for a period of five days, spanning over a week. The series of workshops was held from Monday, February 27 to Tuesday, March 6.

DREA held the workshops in respec-tive villages with the hope of improv-ing skills of farmers, as well as increas-ing and bettering farmers’ understand-ing of other essential information rele-vant to farming and generally commer-

cial development of agriculture.

Although more would always be pre-ferred, DREA saw satisfying and rather encouraging participant turnout in each village workshop.

Staff from the Division of Agriculture & Land as well as the Division of Trade and Investment presented and led dis-cussion on various topics. Among the

WORKSHOPS FOR FARMERS HELD

KOSRAE LAND LEASE PROGRAM: QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Who can apply for the Kosrae Land Lease Program?

Interested parties are qualified to apply for lease of public lands under two cri-teria:

• Homestead/Residential Lease

Residential lease term may be requested/granted up to 40 years.

• Business Lease

Business Lease term may be re-quested/granted up to 50 years.

Parties interested in leasing public lands for business purposes is generally quali-fied. Both local and foreign-based busi-nesses are qualified under this criterion. Furthermore, there is no citizenship requirement for business land lease. However, non-citizens must undergo

foreign investment procedures to be permitted to operate business in Kosrae and lease public lands.

Were there leases already granted in the past?

As of 2nd Quarter FY2012, there is a total of 20 public land leases, some of which are pending approval. Sixteen (16) leases were granted and are cur-rently in effect as of 2nd Quarter of FY2012. Additionally, there were 3 new leases with one 1 newly proposed lease submitted. A total of over 167,000 square meters of public land are currently leased out to 16 leasees.

Where and how do I apply or ob-tain further information on Kos-rae Land Lease Program?

Further information can be acquired from the Land Management Subdivi-

What is the purpose of Kosrae Land Lease Program?

Department of Resources and Eco-nomic Affairs, subdivision of Land Management, was mandated manage-ment of Kosrae’s Public Land Lease Program, as established by Land Lease Law 9-57. The Land Lease Program was established with the vision of:

• Generating revenue for busi-nesses and the State.

• Encourage foreign investment and open opportunities for busi-nesses to expand operations on government lands.

Establishment of a Land Lease Program would also be for the interest of the Kosraean people in that the State, through revenue generation, would be more able to provide and improve on its services to the people of Kosrae.

PAGE 2 DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCES & ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

Cont’d on Page 4...

Remos Livae doing a presentation on Food Security/ Crop Propagation Services

Tafunsak workshop participants Cont’d on page 4...

Tafunsak farmers in workshop

sion, DREA. Land Management Unit can be contacted at telephone numbers 370-2044 & 370-3017, or contact the Land Management Spe-cialist, Mr. Lupalik Wesley through email at wesleylupalik@yahoo.com.

However, interested parties can apply for public land lease at DREA. Application or lease request should be submitted and addressed to the State Designee through the following information:

Mr. Steven L. George Director, DREA P.O Box 600 Tofol, Kosrae FM 96944.

topics presented and/or discussed among participants included soil quality testing, planting methods (container planting), plant pruning, livestock management methods, and product pricing.

Other DREA Divisions were represented in the village workshops to address con-cerns or inquiries relating to their re-spective operations or services. Right-fully so, as much information and knowl-edge relayed onto the participant audi-ence, workshop participants also raised issues and concerns that were construc-tive in nature, which would go to im-prove operations and DREA’s services to the Kosrae populace.

senting groups from the four Municipali-ties. Although initial plans hoped to in-clude as many members from interested groups as possible, groups were re-quested to send a representative to par-ticipate in the workshop on its behalf primarily due to limited space at the workshop venue. However, it was be-lieved that limiting the number of partici-pants from interested groups would not be an hindrance to the effectiveness of the workshop as representative would be trained well enough to be able to train

The Division of Economic Planning held grant writing workshops in effort to assist Kosrae communities with their ambition and need for particular community projects. The workshop was held on Wednesday, February 29 at the DREA Conference Room. The workshop was co-sponsored by the Micronesia Small Grants Program (MSGP).

The workshop had satisfying turnout with 11 people participating, repre-

other members of his/her group.

The grant writing workshop was held in effort to assist participants in the write-up of grant applications, and more importantly to further enhance and improve grant-writing skills of workshop participants. MSGP grant format and criteria was used in the workshop. As such, participants came away with specific projects in mind, which would eventually be written as a MSGP grant proposals.

ECONOMIC PLANNING HELD GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP

AGRICULTURE & LAND UNDERGO LIVESTOCK SURVEY PROCESS was generated through livestock sales with Malem Municipality generating the most with over $24,000 and Walung generating the least with $1,600. The 2007 resulted with total counts of 4,909 pigs, 7,700 in poultry, 21 ducks and 13 goats. The total sales reported in the 2007 survey was predominantly com-posed of pig sales with over $67,000 of the total $69,000 generated through pig sales.

Subdivision of Livestock Management

and Research under the Division of Agriculture and Land, DREA under-went the survey process, going from house to house, and successfully com-pleted the data collection phase.

The results of the recent survey data collection effort have not been pub-lished to the public. However, the survey and the results are currently under the review process and is ex-pected to be published in the near fu-ture.

Among the activities scheduled for the Division of Agriculture and Lands was to conduct a survey of livestock and poultry in the State.

A livestock and poultry survey is con-ducted every five (5) years to account for all livestock in the state. Accord-ing to DREA records, the previous livestock survey was conducted in 2007. As so, another livestock survey must be completed by 2012. Accord-ing to the 2007 survey, over $69,000

PAGE 3 ISSUE 2: 2ND QUARTER, FY2012

...Cont’d from Page 3: Land Lease

ing system for both KMU and KHIP, which would substantially improve the services of these programs. In addition, Dr. Haines was also able to extend his generous services to other DREA pro-grams, specifically the staff. Dr. Haines was able to provide training to interested DREA staff on essential computer skills; particularly, Micro-soft applications.

Prior to his departure, DREA staff held a farewell lunch featuring tantalizingly desired Kosraean delicacies in appre-ciation of Dr. Haines generous ser-vices, bid him farewell and wish him well on his journey back home.

...Cont’d from Page 2: Farmers’ Workshop

...Cont’d from page 1: Dr. Haines

It is understood that agricultural pro-duction, and the export or trade of such production is a vital component of the development of the State.

As previously reported in DREA’s pre-vious newsletter issue, the effort to fa-cilitate trade of Kosrae agricultural pro-duce is among the programs undertaken in support of the department mission of achieving sustainable growth of per cap-ita income. As also reported in the pre-vious issue of the DREA newsletter, trade of Kosrae agricultural produce is currently conducted to a number of buyers in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. There is, however, ambition and effort to expand trade operations to include other potential buyers in the near future.

Table 1.0 shows the volume and value of DREA facilitated agricultural exports during FY2011, as well as the 1st and 2nd Quarters of FY2012. As shown in Table

1.0, relative to the 1st Quarter of FY2012, an increase of over 1,000 lbs of export volume and an increase of over $2,000 in export value was realized in the 2nd Quarter of FY2012. In summary, Table 1.0 shows increases in both value and volume of DREA facilitated export for the 2nd Quarter of FY2012. Sustaining the trend of increasing export volume and value is essential and would eventu-ally require increased production from farmers, or increase in number of farm-

ers participating in this export effort.

As stated by the DREA Export Coordi-nator Mr. Hermis Tosie, there is de-mand and market for Kosrae agricul-tural produce. However, there were a number of instances where demand for certain produce could not be met. As such, DREA encourages individuals to consider actively participating in agri-cultural production and inquire with DREA on what appropriate produce to cultivate.

NORMA OBSERVER AND KAIMAKI EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES timeframe listed. Applicants for NORMA Observer position were evaluated on Sat-urday February 25th. Applicants who passed the preliminary NORMA evalua-tion were interviewed the same night. Three applicants were interviewed and were selected as candidates to undergo further training to be held in Pohnpei:

1. Osamu Tolenna 2. Singkitchy Kephas 3. Sterling Edmond

Selection for the Observer candidates was conducted by NORMA & SPC representa-tives. The three candidates departed to Pohnpei on March 17th to undergo a five-week training and evaluation. Final selec-tion and recruitment of candidates is to take place subsequent the to the five-week training, where final selection would be

subject to the candidates passing the training and further evaluation.

Additionally, three other applicants from Kosrae also passed the initial se-lection process held in Kosrae and are placed as alternates.

Other individuals also received good news subsequent to the recruitment sessions. As result of its recruitment process, Kaimaki recruited four (4) Kosraeans:

1. Jeffrey William, Tafunsak 2. Zimbardo Jonas, Malem 3. Reynard Elley, Lelu 4. Joseph E. Joseph, Utwe

DREA congratulates the listed indi-viduals and wish them well on their new employment.

NORMA and Kaimaki representatives were in Kosrae on separate occasions to present employment opportunities and recruit interested Kosraeans.

As it is the mission of DREA to achieve sustainable growth of per capita income, providing assistance to ensure employ-ment for those qualified and interested goes directly in support of the depart-ment mission. As such, the Division of Fisheries and Marine Resources staff have provided assistance to and actively coordinated the NORMA and Kaimaki recruiting processes. Fisheries staff co-ordinated recruitment sessions that were held from Saturday to Monday, February 25 to February 27, 2012.

Recruitment for both NORMA and Kaimaki were held during the same

PAGE 4 ISSUE 2: 2ND QUARTER, FY2012

2ND QUARTER DREA FACILITATED EXPORT

Table 1.0 Volume & Va lue of DREA Coordina ted Exports

Volume (lbs) Value Volume (lbs) Value

-- -- 5281 5,001$ 2166 3,364$ 6309 7,149$ 6881 8,773$ -- --5671 6,743$ -- --

14719 18,881$ 11590 12,150$

4906 6,294$ 5795 6,075$

2nd Quarter3rd Quarter4th QuarterTotal

Period

1st Quarter

Average

FY2012FY2011