The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Bureau of Agriculture (BOA) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Environment held a series of workshops early last week to support women groups and livestock farmers. On March 17 to 18 the inception workshop for the project titled “Empowering Women in the Agrifood Systems of Palau: Bridging Tradition and Sustainability through Gender Equality” was held. The event convened a total of 28 persons (21 women and 7 men) from government agencies, non-government organizations, and the private sector, with particular focus on women groups of West Babeldaob. Over the course of two, half-day workshops in Koror, workshop participants discussed identifying and prioritizing high potential food value chains, developing local food tours, linkages of the agriculture sector to the national tourism strategy, aligning organic farming standards to the hospitality sector, support to day and night markets, and planning for a gender awareness event in June. Out of the discussions a short-list of feasible project activities was produced and endorsed by the workshop participants. Discussions also organically mentioned youth inclusion to bridge the growing knowledge and labor gap in Palauan farming. The workshop concluded with an organic-farm certified farm visit located at Medorm, Aimeliik, with FAO Natural Resources Officer Ms. Malia Talakai. This short-term initiative funded by the Government of Ireland, channelled through the FAO Mountain Partnership based in Rome and implemented through the FAO Sub-Regional Office for the Pacific Islands based in Samoa, is a follow-up action to the 2020-2022 project titled “Empowering women in food systems and strengthening the local capacities and resilience of SIDS in the agrifood sector”. FAO and BOA would like to thank the following groups and partners for their active participation contributing to the success of this event: Bngalakesol (Ngeremlengui), Maltreng (Aimeliik), Ngaraungiang (Ngaraard), Ngesechel a Sils ra R’Belchorl Ngara Yolt (Ngaraard), Ngaramengidab (Ngatpang), Palau Organic Growers Association, MHHS Department of Environmental Health, MHRCTD Bureau of Tourism, MOF Bureau of Budget and Planning, National Youth and Cheldebechel Council, Palau Community Action Agency, Palau Chamber of Commerce, Friends of PNMS, RARE, EGAI Palau, Palau Pacific Resort, Carp Island Resort, UNDP GEF Small Grants Program, and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office of Micronesia in Palau.

FAO and BOA host workshop on Animal Welfare, Nutrition and Local Feed Formulation

FAO International Consultants Dr. Siaka Diarra and Ms. Temwanoku Ioakim had visited livestock farms around Babeldaob and Angaur prior to delivering a capacity building workshop to farmers and BOA staff last week Wednesday, March 19. The half-day workshop gathered 25 participants (22 men and 7 women) at the Bureau of Agriculture Compound, Ngchesar. Participants were introduced to FAO recommended guidelines on animal housing, animal nutrition and animal welfare, as well as explore the potential for local feed formulation. According to Dr. Siaka, available ingredients in the Pacific can be used in combination with imported ingredients, to reduce cost, but at this stage, cannot 100 percent replace them to formulate a complete formula for neither poultry nor pig. In presenting an alternative to cage farming, Temwa highlighted Mr. Harry Besebes’ free range chicken farm as a prime local example of good animal welfare. The workshop is made possible by the Government of Canada through an FAO Pacific regional project titled “Reducing COVID-19 Related Food Insecurity in the Pacific Region”, which ends March 31st. The project had also provided funding and technical support to BOA across several programs to assist livestock farmers expand production sustainably. If you wish to receive a copy of the presentations, please contact BOA Office, 622-3003, during regular office hours. FAO and BOA would also like to extend their appreciation to Palau Community Action Agency, Palau Community College Cooperative Research and Extension and Taiwan International Cooperation Development Fund for their continued partnership and contribution to making the event and site visits an overall success.