Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Mission 1: Discussions with DAL/KGA

Kastom Gaden Association
Planting Materials Network, Department of Agriculture and Livestock, and PestNet

Linking Farmers to Plant Protection Network
(Solomon Islands)

Project #1222 infoDev The World Bank

24 July to 12 August 2003

Sydney
August 2003


Abbreviations

AusAID Australian Agency for International Development
BFN Baetolau Farmer Network
CBO Community-based organizations
CFO Community Field Officer
CMV Cucumber mosaic virus
CPRF Community Peace and Restoration Fund
DAL Department of Agriculture and Livestock
DVA Rural Development Volunteers Association
IPM Integrated pest management
KGA Kastom Gaden Association
NGO Non-government organization
OCAA Oxfam Community Aid Abroad
PC Project coordinator
PMN Planting Material Network
PS Permanent Secretary
SPC Secretariat of the Pacific Community
TLB Taro leaf bight



Introduction

The project Linking Farmers to Plant Protection Networks (Solomon Islands) aims to pilot the use of rural email by farmers to better manage insect and disease problems affecting food crops. The project is located in a remote part of north Malaita where population is high, and where there has been considerable social instability due to the ethnic tensions of the last five years. It is an area where Kastom Gaden Association and the Planting Material Network have been working on livelihood improvement projects, including those involved with pest control using natural products.

The project began officially on 23 July 2003 with the signing of the Grant Agreement #1222 between the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development for the Information and Development Program (infoDev) and Pacific PestNet (now known as PestNet). The start was made possible by the Permanent Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Livestock, Solomon Islands sending a letter of ‘non-objection’ to infoDev on 6June 2003.

The present report describes activities to initiate the project in Solomon Islands. It covers meetings with DAL, KGA, PMN and PestNet on 25 August, advertisement for a Community Field Officer, preliminary surveys in coastal and highland food gardens on Malaita by KGA/PestNet, and follow-up meetings with the Baetolau Farmers Network (a sub-group of PMN members of north Malaita) and its coordinating committee to outline a plan for the next 6 months. An itinerary of KGA and PestNet personnel is provided (Annex 1).

Meeting with DAL Honiara

PestNet, KGA and PMN met with DAL on 25 August 2003. PestNet described how the organization had been formed, its purpose, present membership and aims. It was a free service, operated by volunteer moderators, now with 470 members, which responded to a need among research and quarantine agencies, universities, and many other institutions, for fast exchange of plant protection advice and information. All messages were sent by email. It was primarily a service for the Pacific and Asia, but no one was refused membership, and members came from many parts of the world.

Mostly, there had been a positive response to PestNet, although there had been some criticism, and both the positive and negative attributes of the organization were outlined.

The reasons for the present project were stated. It was to assist an NGO that had been active in plant protection, testing local recipes against plant pests, but which needed scientific back up. It was also to see if farmers would make use of PestNet, in collaboration with a local NGO, to answer plant protection questions as they arose, and to work on important problems selected by the farmers as being of major concern.

Support for the project has come from several sources. This was outlined in the context of the history of the project to date. AusAID has provided funds for the email station at Silolo, and this became operational in September 2002. SPC originally agreed to fund PestNet to carry out several activities, but subsequently decided to channel funds through DAL, leaving it to DAL how the money was to be apportioned to the project. A grant from infoDev has provided the majority of funds. Present arrangements mean that PestNet does not have sufficient funds to monitor the project as originally planned as DAL has decided not to provide funds to PestNet.

PestNet welcomed the expanded role of DAL in the project, and said that it regretted that DAL had not been more involved in project formulation. Poor communication and political events in the country had made that difficult.

In response to the back-ground provided by PestNet, DAL reiterated its position that it wished to have a leading role in the project, and that it would nominate a person to be the project coordinator. This person would work on the project as a priority. DAL would provide funds to KGA as part payment of the salary of the Community Field Officer, as previously agreed (letter of 15 April 2003 from Permanent Secretary), and intended to sign the Agreement between the parties with the modifications that had been indicated. DAL acknowledged that the project had been through a difficult design process, and accepted the statement of PestNet that it regretted that there had not been greater involvement of DAL from the outset.

The Agreement was then looked at in detail and some minor changes were made to clarify roles and responsibilities. It was agreed that all the parties would sign the Agreement on 8 August (subsequently, this was changed to the 11 August as KGA/PestNet activities in Malaita took longer than anticipated).

A copy of the minutes of the meeting is provided in Annex 2.

Meetings with DAL Malaita

A meeting was held at Silolo on 31 July between DAL (Mary Falimae, Senior Field Officer, North and John Faleka, Field Officer, Malu’u), KGA and PestNet to brief the Malaita agriculture officers about the project. The reasons for the project were explained, the funding sources and the history of developing the project. Under the project, there should be ample funds for DAL staff on Malaita to participate fully.

Awareness raising was considered to be an important first activity, and this would be the function of the CFO once recruited. Awareness raising would also take place during the pest/PRA surveys, which were scheduled for October. These would identify the villages/farmers interested in the project’s activities and the field trials to be undertaken. It was suggested that a box should be made for the office of the Field Officer Malu’u. A camera was considered a necessity, although use of the one to be purchased by PestNet for the CFO would be available to DAL staff in the interim.

KGA reminded DAL staff that they were members of the Project Coordination Committee. BFN members would meet to discuss a range of issues including the PestNet project on Wednesday 6 August; the following day the new committee would convene and discuss the PestNet project in more detail. They were invited to join, and the agriculture staff said they would attend, However, neither they nor the DAL Project Coordinator (Lily Wame, Senior Field Officer), from Honiara, attended the meetings .

On 8 August a visit was made to the office of the Chief Field Officer, Malaita, William Horia. The CFO was briefed on the project and on the activities carried out on Malaita during the KGA/PestNet visit. The CFO confirmed that hibiscus or slippery cabbage, Abelmoschus manihot, was suffering from beetle attack (Nisotra basselae) and that people were growing exotic cabbages as a result. These, too, had pest problems. There was also a fruit rot problem on papaya. The CFO welcomed the pilot project as he said that DAL services were not reaching farmers at present due to the financial constraints of the Government and that having access to PestNet would be very beneficial. It was important that the CFO was kept informed of project activities, so that he could give the support that was required. It would be useful if the office had access to email.

On 11 August, PestNet and KGA were able to brief the DAL PC upon their return to Honiara, before she left for Malaita the same day to meet with staff in Auki and Malu’u. It was agreed that tour reports would be exchanged, and that the parties would keep in touch though email.

Silolo email centre

Result 1 of the project: Purchase information infrastructure is complete. With funds from the CPRF, equipment was purchased by PFNet, installed at Silolo and an operator trained. The station began operating on 9 September 2002. A report on the establishment of the station, the training provided and the Silolo email station management agreement can be found on the PFNet website (htt://www.peoplefirst.net.sb.general/pfnet.htm). A Silolo Email Committee has been established and this will work with the other partners in the enterprise (DVA/PFNet, KGA and CPRF.

To date, the use of the station has been lower than expected, with the number of messages sent per month falling below 100 from May 2003. Correspondingly, takings have dropped, and in June were below $SB200. The lack of a concerted awareness campaign in the area, and the ethnic tensions, may have resulted in the relatively low use compared with other stations. It is expected that a return to law and order in the area, and the appointment of the CFO, will see usage increase.

Preliminary survey of pests and diseases in the project area

Visits were made to several coastal and highland villages in north Malaita. At Mana’abu, Suava Bay, slippery cabbage was being attacked by Nisotra, and also by grasshoppers shredding the leaves. Taro had taro leaf blight, and was generally not growing well on the nutritionally impoverished soils of the area. Sweet potato plants were showing deficiency symptoms, and photographs were taken for further analysis. Gardens around Silolo and Takwa (further north) had alomae, a lethal disease of taro, and also TLB. A taro bred by DAL in the late 1970s for resistance to TLB (LA16) was seen at Ngalitalo (near Takwa) where it was performing well, far better than a local variety (Akalomamale). Head cabbages appeared to be devastated by diamond back moth.

Felix Laukasi, at Ngalitalo, an expert farmer under the previous KGA IPM project, was experimenting with sprays made from local plants to prevent alomae. Furi and chili were said to be useful. These could be tested under the PestNet project, along with others said to be active: mala’aqua, konare, akathe, neem (from Honiara), uka (Derris sp.), and fu’u. Ngalitalo is an ideal place to conduct farmer-led experiments as it is the site of a village training centre, under construction with support from KGA and OCAA, where short courses for 20-30 people (as well as long term attachments) will be held on village-based activities (pigs, poultry, agroforestry, trees planting, etc.

Watermelon is an important cash crop at Takwa, but production requires the use of considerable amounts of pesticides. One family can produce up to 600 melons for sale in Honiara, with gross returns of $8,000, a lucrative business. There were no crops in the field at the time of the visit, but discussions suggested that considerable amounts of pesticides were being used, for as yet undiagnosed reasons. Packets of Orthene (acephate), Bravo (chlorothalanil) and Target (permethrin and pirimiphos-methyl) were on hand ready for the new crop, now being raised in the nursery .

Further inland at the highland village of Masilana (6 hours walk from the coast) several insects and pathogens were found associated with a range of crops grown by Johnson Ladota, a taro grower and member of the BFN. He is trying a range of vegetables and fruits, such as maize, Chinese cabbage, turnip, head cabbage, tomatoes and pumpkin. Preliminary findings showed that maize was affected by southern leaf blight, head cabbage by slugs, and tomatoes by grey leaf mould, Fulvia fulva (Cladospium fulvum), defoliating the plants. There were also symptoms of virus in pumpkin (CMV) and slippery cabbage (Hibiscus chlorotic ringspot virus). Neither was particularly damaging. Taro were without symptoms of alomae (the vector Tarophagus sp. was present as was its egg-predator, Cyrtorhinus fulvus), and TLB was a minor pathogen compared to coastal gardens.

Recruitment of Project Community Field Officer

The original candidate for the post, Matilda Koiko, is unavailable to take up the position due to illness. Efforts were made to find a replacement during the visit, but there was insufficient time for the advertisement to be circulated widely. Three people applied, but only one person arrived at Silolo on the appointed day for an interview. The position will be readvertised. The preference is for a woman with strong social skills; experience in agriculture would be an advantage, but is of secondary importance to an ability to work with communities. It is expected that the appointee will be selected by the end of August.

Once selected, the person will be based at Silolo. His or her first task will be awareness raising in the project area (Mbita’ama in the south, Takwa in the north and as far inland as the highland village of Masilana), plus the production of a leaflet describing the project.

Baetolau Farmers Network and Coordination Committee

In 1998, members of the PMN in north Malaita formed their own organization called the Baetolau Farmers Network. The idea was for people in the area to work together for sustainable agriculture using their own resources. The group has met irregularly over the years. More recently, when an AusAID-funded livelihoods project began in the area, the BFN coordinating committee was appointed to give advice and general direction, ie a steering committee to the KGA initiative. In time, it is hoped that the BFN will be registered as an organization with its own constitution. The BFN committee will also be the steering committee of the Linking farmers with plant protection networks project. The next meeting of the Committee will be October to coincide with the project survey, and a further meeting is scheduled for January/February 2004.

Work plan and budget September 2003 – February 2004

Some changes have been made to the budget allocations presented in the Grant Agreement (Annex 3). Funds for equipment have been provided by AusAID through the CPRF, so there is a saving under Result 1 of USD1300. Result 2 remains unchanged. Pest surveys are now largely financed by infoDev (Result 3), using funds previously allocated for the terminal evaluation meeting, which SPC have said they will try and support. Result 4 remains largely unchanged except of transfer of the meeting costs.

The activities for the PestNet project for the next 6 months were discussed by the BFN Coordinating Committee, and the work plan and budget are provided (Annex 4 and 5). The most immediate activity is the recruitment of the CFO, followed, in October, by pest surveys and PRAs in the project area, and, later, village workshop to choose villages/farmers and crops/pests for participatory trials and monitoring.

Acknowledgements

Our thanks to members of the Baetolau farmers who joined in the preliminary pest surveys, led us to gardens and discussed local knowledge on pest and diseases and shared much information. We would like to give special thanks to CPRF Coordinator, Lucian Konata, and his family, including Lucy, the email operator, who hosted us at Silolo during the visit to Malaita, 28 August to 8 September. We would like to acknowledge infoDev World Bank for its support of this project.

Annex 1

Itinerary

24 July 2003 Sydney – Honiara (GVHJ)
25 July Meeting with DAL
26 July Rest
27 July To Kakabona village to look at watercress pest problem
28 July Flight to Malaita and to Silolo by road
29 July BFN Committing meeting, Silolo
30 July Visit to melon growers, Takwa, and Ngalitalo village training centre
31 July Meeting with DAL, Silolo
1 August To Malu’u to interview potential CFO
2 August To Masilana, highland village
3 August At Masilana
4 August To Silolo
5 August Taro gardens around Silolo
6 August BFN meeting
7 August BFN Coordinating Committee meeting
8 August To Auki, and meetings with DAL
9 August Ship to Honiara
10 August Rest
11 August Signing of project Agreement KGA/PMN/PestNet
12 August Meeting with NZ 1st Secretary, and to Sydney (GVHJ)

Annex 2

Minutes of a meeting between KGA/PMN, PestNet and DAL

Reason for the meeting

The meeting was convened to discuss collaboration between partners in a pilot project Linking farmers to plant protection networks (Solomon Islands), using rural email to give farmers access to plant protection information.

The meeting took place on Friday 25 July at the Department of Agriculture and Livestock.

The meeting was Chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Morgan Wairiu, and those present were Ezekiel Walaodo, Under-Secretary, John Harunari, Acting Director Extension, Michael Max, Principle Agronomist, Roselyn Kobu-Maemari, Planting Material Network, Tony Jansen, Kastom Gaden Association, and Grahame Jackson, PestNet.

Agenda

There was no formal agenda developed prior to the meeting, but the meeting took the following format:

Background to PestNet
Development of project and submission to World Bank infoDev
Collaboration of DAL with other partners and use of SPC funds
Agreement between partners.

PestNet background

Grahame Jackson spoke about the formation of PestNet. In 1998. Twelve or so people who were retired or partly retired joined together to form an association to provide agricultural advice to anyone that needed it in the region, via email. Those in the group covered all aspects of agriculture from planning to plant protection. Informing people of the existence of the group was difficult and in 1999, SPC invited a representative to attend a regional plant protection meeting to present the concept. The address given by Bob Macfarlane was well received. It was later decided to use a list server and to narrow the focus of the group to plant protection rather than all aspects of agriculture. Subsequently, four moderators were appointed: Bob Macfarlane, Grahame Jackson, Mat Purea and Wilco Liebregts. During the next 12 months, they tried to obtain funds for a list server, but failed, and the costs were too high for the group to support. Because of this, it was decided to use Yahoogroups, a free service, but one with advertisements. In December 1999, invitations were sent to about 300 people in the Pacific and beyond, inviting them to join Pacific PestNet.

Since that time, the membership has reached 470: all Pacific Island countries are represented, and many resource people from universities and research stations around the world have joined. More than 1800 messages have been exchanged on a wide range of topics, and many images of pests have been sent for on-line identification. PestNet was registered as an NGO in Fiji in June 2000.

In 2002, the service was expanded to APEC Southeast Asian countries, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia. AusAID generously gave funds for an awareness campaign, and leaflets, fridge magnets and posters were printed and distributed, and a web site developed. In recognition of this expansion, Pacific PestNet became PestNet.

PestNet has been a success, and many people and organizations have commended it on its activities: people want fast, reliable, information and advice on plant protection and PestNet provides that. However, there have been criticisms of the service: it has been suggested that conflicting opinions provided by members could result in confusion, although this has not yet occurred; that tentative identifications made by members of critical quarantine pests could stop trade under the precautionary principle embodied in the WTO SPS Agreement, but this unlikely to arise, as many countries would not apply it based on an on-line identification, and all PestNet communications are moderated, so anything that is contentious would not be posted; there has also been criticism that PestNet members have work interests that might conflict with the aspirations of the group, but this, too, has not occurred. The moderators work for PestNet as volunteers unrelated to their paid employment.

Development of project, and its finances

A brief summary of the development of the project, Linking farmers to plant protection networks (Solomon Islands) was given, to put the meeting’s discussions into perspective. An invitation was sent to the DDG SPC in October 2001 to be a partner in the project, and in February 2002, SPC offered PestNet US$38,000. The project document was sent to DAL in March 2002, and in May after a meeting between DAL and SPC, when the project was further reviewed, it was agreed that a sum of US$37,322 would be allocated, out of which DAL would get US$5,0000 to monitor activities. With agreement between partners having been reached, and with funds secured, the project was submitted to the infoDev scheme of the World Bank.

In the event, the project’s finances were not secured. SPC withdrew support in September 2002, reinstated it in December, but directed funds through DAL. That month PestNet was informed by the World Bank that PestNet was one of 16 from 259 submissions to receive funds from infoDev. Further discussions ensued on project implementation and funding, and in June after discussions with FAO Samoa, DAL sent a letter of ‘non-objection’ to the World Bank, and on the basis of that the World Bank transferred funds to PestNet. In the same month, SPC wrote to PestNet that it would make every effort to “undertake to elicit support” for the evaluation meeting at the end of the project, and this allowed PestNet to use its reduced funds for other essential activities.
Finally, Grahame Jackson said that he realised that with hindsight DAL should have been more involved in the design process from the outset. He regretted that this had not been so, and offered an apology from PestNet for the oversight. But when the project was first conceived, the political situation in the country was different from that of today, and so were DAL’s capabilities. Also, PestNet had relied on other partners to negotiate with DAL, and this had not resulted in the collaboration desired.

In response to the issues raised, the PS DAL reiterated support for the project saying that it was in line with the Government’s objectives on food security. DAL wished to work with all stakeholders (NGO, farmers, CBOs, and the private business sector) on issues of common interest. He also said that he appreciated the apology given by PestNet. He had reminded SPC that funds from regional organizations needed to be coordinated by line ministries, in accordance with established procedures. DAL will collaborate on surveys, and it will call on assistance from SPC if there is a need. It will use the funds that SPC will make available to fund a Project Coordination Officer, who will have part-time involvement in the project, but who will make the work a priority. DAL will administer the SPC funds, and from that source provide a contribution to the salary of the Community Field Officer (US$3,350). However, no funds have yet been requested from the SPC, as DAL was waiting for the outcome of the present meeting.

The Agreement between parties

There were few comments on the Agreement; all present accepted it as written and with the edits of the PS. KGA asked that under 4.2.1 the Coordinating Committee at Silolo appoint office bearers as is normal practice, and this was agreed. PestNet asked for clarification of the duties of the Project PC, under the first point of 4.2.1: “provide overall project coordination”. PestNet took this to mean that the person would act as the focal point of the project, keeping everyone in touch with developments, sharing information, etc., in keeping with DAL’s executing role. It was confirmed that this was so.

There was further discussion on the budget from the World Bank and its allocation under four activities. In order to have sufficient funds, the number of visits by PestNet staff had been reduced. There was, however, a shortage of funds for extension materials and DAL was asked to consider requesting funds from SPC to cover this gap in funding. The shortage of funds meant that PestNet did not have funds to cover administration costs, and this was a concern. PestNet would try and obtain funds from other sources to cover this unexpected situation, and extend and expand the project.

Arrangements for starting the project

The project team will be going to Malaita on Monday 28 July. Unfortunately, the PC will not be present, but Mary Falimae will accompany the team, and John Faleka, Agriculture Officer, Malu’u, will be on hand to assist. It was agreed that KGA would advance the funds for DAL participation and be reimbursed from SPC funds when they arrived. During the visit, a Community Field Officer will be appointed (job adverts have already been distributed). A plan and budget for the next 3-6 months will be developed with the Baetilau Coordinating Committee.

It was agreed that Grahame Jackson would brief the Undersecretary on the mission to Malaita on the 8 August, and at that time DAL, KGA, PMN and PestNet would sign the Agreement.

There being no further business, the PS closed the meeting.


Annex 3

Budget: Linking farmers to plant protection networks (Solomon Islands)

Results Activity Specific Costs (US$)
(Prodoc) Info Dev requested InfoDev funds obtained MAL/SPC infoDev provisional budget
Personnel Materials/ equipment Travel/ Meetings Other
Result 1 Purchase information infrastructure
Purchase equipment 10,000 0 1,800 0
Set up and provide training 1,400 1,400 0
Provide technical backstopping 400 400 0
Establish office at Silolo 2,000 0 500
Result 2 Community awareness
Community Field Officer & travel 12,172 2,400 11,222 16,772 3,350 11,222
Meetings, workshops, PRAs 2,550 2,550 2,550
Production extension materials 3,000 3,000 0
Result 3 Farmer monitored pest control strategies
PestNet surveys & training 23,800 350 8,700 7,650 7,650 0 22,040
Pest identifications 700 0 0 0
Result 4 Monitoring/evaluation and audit
Coordinating committee 108 420 528 23,778 0 550
Project administration 2,920 450 126 3,496 0 3,328
Project monitoring 7,960 1,260 2,109 0 9,310
Participation of DAL 5,020 0 0 0
Dissemination of lessons learned 9,990 1,000 7,360 17,360 17,360 0
Audit 1,000 500 500
Total 59,642 16,908 27,836 700 50,215 50,000 20,710 50,000

Annex 4

Project activities from August to December 2003

Date Activity Responsibility
End August Recruit Community Field Officer (Silolo) KGA/PMN
September CFO to hold community awareness raising meetings in villages, in project area, on use of email & potential of PestNet to assist farmers. KGA (CFO)
September/October Production of extension leaflet, describing the PestNet project, and the use of email. KGA (CFO)
October (>1 week) Pest survey & PRAs to understand impact of pests & diseases on food production.
∑ Development of methology
∑ Testing in 2 villages
∑ Surveys DAL/KGA/PMN/PestNet (2 scientists: plant pathologist & entomologist)
Continued
(1 day) Survey members will report to the BFN Coordinating Committee, so that it can advise on:
∑ Villages eg Silolo, Takwa, Mana’abu, Mbita’a’ma, Talofe, Masilana,
∑ Crops/problems DAL/KGA/PMN/PestNet & BFN Coordinating Committee
Continued (2 days) Train & develop programme for CFO:
∑ Insect pests & diseases
∑ Use of digital camera & sending emails, distributing to farmers
∑ PestNet background
∑ Awareness raising KGA/PMN/PestNet
October/ November (>2 weeks) Workshops in villages to establish farmer-led trials (Note, these might be held over several weeks – decision will be made by BFN Coordinating Committee. The workshops will:
∑ Confirm problems
∑ Identify possible solutions
∑ Select farmers
∑ Trial designs
∑ Plan trials and monitoring DAL/KGA/PMN/PestNet
December/ January Project monitoring KGA/PMN

Annex 5

Project Budget 6 months from September 2003

Item SBD USD
Community Field Officer 11,734.5 1,466.8
Bicycle for CFO + spare Bicycle and parts 2,500 312.5
Awareness program in project area 2,000 250
Pest survey local expenses 4,130 516.3
Committee meetings 700 87.5
Bicycle for PMN Committee members 3,200 400
Farmers workshops (1500 per workshop *5) 7,500 937.5
Follow up Transport/farmer meetings / farmer visits 5,000 625
Silolo office supplies and stationary 2,000 250
Training supplies (brown paper, pens etc) 2,000 250
Extension materials (photocopy handout on project) 1,000 125
Email usage 1,000 125
Inverter 2,000 250
Monitoring and travel (PMN and KGA) 5,000 625
TOTAL 49,764.5 6,220.6

USD (Approximate) 6,220.6

Total Budget for local project expenses 19,172
Quarterly budget if equally distributed 4,793













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