| ID: | 83762 |
|---|---|
| Country: | Kiribati |
| Title: | Kiribati – Pacific Islands Rural and Agriculture Stimulus Facility (PIRAS) – November 2022 |
| Description: |
Mr Willie Marera Tabuia, 24 years-old from Temwaiku, Tarawa Settlement, is one of eight children in his family. His father passed away, leaving him and his siblings with their mother. Only three of his siblings had paying jobs. Willie, who is unemployed, and the others contributed to household needs doing farming and gardening. “Before COVID, life was easy. But during the pandemic and all the lockdown restrictions, we struggled and life seemed so difficult. We experienced daily food supply shortages and had no income to support us throughout the crisis. This motivated us to return to our individual gardens to grow food for ourselves.” Like many people across Kiribati, Willie continued to struggle even after the pandemic lockdown period had passed. That is, until PIRAS helped Willie get back on his feet. Willie believes agriculture is key to a brighter future. He saw an opportunity to empower young people like himself to make a difference in their communities through gardening. With PIRAS support, Willie established the Tungaru Youth Agriculture Association at the beginning of 2022 and created a demonstration plot where youth can learn and experiment with different farming techniques. They grow various vegetables, such as zucchini, cucumber, cabbage, lettuce, and eggplants. They either consume everything they produce or sell it at the nearest roadside market. They share their earnings, saving some of the profit for the association. “Our biggest challenges were lack of a sustainable fresh water supply, working tools, and fencing to protect our plots from free-range livestock. We used to get fresh water from a nearby well. But, with drought conditions, the fresh water turns salty and cannot be used for irrigation. Now we have tools and rainwater collection tanks from the project.” The young gardeners also learned to produce compost to enrich the sandy soil, as well as about seed saving, a critical technique in a region where seeds can be scarce and expensive. The Association’s impact has been significant. For Willie, observing the youth gain knowledge, skills and confidence has been the most rewarding part of the project. They have learned how to grow their own food and can support their families with fresh, healthy vegetables, while making a positive impact on the environment. They have become leaders in their communities and ambassadors for sustainable farming practices, inspiring others to take up gardening as well. “Before, we couldn’t afford to buy fresh vegetables. With our gardening, we have achieved a healthier diet. Instead of eating vegetables only once a month, now it is more likely that our daily diet includes vegetables from our garden. We need to sustain this practice for as long as we live and motivate the next generation to continue building up farming as part of their lives.” Launched in 2022 in collaboration between IFAD and the Australian Government, the Pacific Islands Rural and Agriculture Stimulus (PIRAS) Facility is a regional initiative that aims to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural island households. The programme supports food system and economic recovery by prioritizing food self-reliance, improving local nutrition and developing sustainable, equitable agricultural livelihood opportunities for rural communities in Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. In Kiribati, PIRAS works in collaboration with the Atolls Food Future Project, implemented by Live & Learn Environmental Education, and focuses on increasing farm production, nutrition and climate resilience by providing farmers and gardeners with nutrition-sensitive seedlings and planting materials, labour-saving tools, and equipment. It trains them in the safe use and maintenance of water tanks, composting production and soil preparation, and liquid fertilizer production and application. |
| Size: | 11.25 MB; 5472 x 3648 pixels; 463 x 309 mm (print at 300 DPI); 1448 x 965 mm (screen at 96 DPI); |
| Show more details: | Barbara Gravelli |
| Copyright: | ©IFAD/Barbara Gravelli |
| Categories: | New from Asia and the Pacific |
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