NEWS...

TerraCircle involved in new project in Melanesia

TerraCircle has faciitated the 2007 Project Startup Workshop of the Melanesian Farmer First Network in Wewak, PNG.

The project aims to provide more effective farmer centred services in the rural areas of Melanesia to improve food security and livelihoods. This will be done through NGOs gaining increased support, knowledge and connections between themselves and other stakeholders.

The project consists of four components:     

Component 1: Enhance the sharing of knowledge and experiences between partners and through local sharing networks.

Component 2: Increase the linkages of partners to external resources, organizations (GO and NGO) and information in order to improve their programs and their influence as a regional group networking to address wider issues.

Component 3: Engage in advocacy and influence in the region and beyond on farmer centred approaches in Melanesia by taking partners’ experiences and issues to a wider audience.

Component 4: Effective network and project management.

Download the report from the Melanesian Farmer First Network website.

Pest could devastate crops, introduce disease

An outbeak of the exotic pest, the giant African snail, threatens village and commercial agriculture in the Solomon Islands. The snail carries an organism, infection by which can cause severely illness in people.

The snail has been detected in the village of Feraladoa in the hills behind the Solomon Islands capital, Honiara. Growing up to 15cm long and 5 to 8cm in width, the brown with yellow-cream stripes, night-feeding pest eats vegetables and fruit. An internal worm causes brain disease in people if they eat uncooked snails or snail slime left on unwashed vegetables.

TerraCircle plant pathologist, Grahame Jackson, said the snail is easily spread attached to plants, timber and household items and as eggs in soil and sawdust.

The Solomon Islands Agriculture Quarantine Service is asking people to report any discovery of the snail.

TerraCircle has produced an information brochure, supported by the Solomon Islands Ministry of Agricutlure and Livestock, Improved Plant Protection in the Solomon Islands and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, alerting people to the threat presented by the snail.

Solomon Island organisations are encouraged to print and distribute the brochure.

Report on impacts of April 2007's earthquake and tsunami disaster

A Kastom Gaden Association team has conducted a rapid assessment of the food security and agricultural impacts of the April, 2007 earthquake and tsunami in Western and Choiseul provinces. AusAID, Oxfam Australia and ACIAR provided support.

To download report go to: www.terracircle.org.au/kga/reports

Disaster and Recovery on Ranongga: Six Months After the Easthquake in the Western Solomons.

January 2008 independent report on Tsunami impact six months later. The report highlights on going needs for food security and makes recommendations on how the response could have been improved. Prepared by: Debra McDougall, University of Western Australia Inia Barry & Silas Pio, Kastom Gaden Association.

Download Ranongga Report