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MARCH 2000 NEWSLETTER
Extract from the Samoan Observer, 22 February 2000
Fruit Tree Development
 Consultants
working on the project from left to right: Grantley
Chaplin, Peter Rutledge, Brenda Sio, and Digby Gotts
The
Ministry of Agriculture's Fruit Tree Project, now in its third phase
has been strengthened by the arrival of three consultants. The consultants
are to assist with the handling of fruits after harvest and to promote
the nutritional benefits of the fruit being grown.
A new
post harvest laboratory is to be established at the Ministry's Atele
Horticultural Research Centre. The research undertaken will provide
practical ways to harvest, handle, treat fruit to stop diseases
and pests after harvest, pack, transport and market fruit correctly..
The
Fruit Tree Development Project is in line with government's initiatives
to promote crop diversification technology through the development
of small crops and the identification of new export and traditional
food crops. The Fruit Tree Development Project has three phases:
Phase I covered the period 1989-1991; Phase II was from 1992-1996;
whilst Phase III is in its implementation stage.
Phase
I of the project saw development in the following areas: selection
of superior in-country fruits with reliable tree performance; introduction
of new fruit species and modern cultivars of existing species for
evaluation; expansion of nursery operations to increase the throughput
of quality certified planting materials, provision and encouragement
of technical support for private nurserymen; initial planting of
the national fruit germaplasm collection; procurement of land, orchard
planning and initial plantings of Atele Horticultural Centre; and
the identification of prospective private demonstration orchards.
Phase
II looked at increasing the level of production and quality of fresh
and processed fruits leading to greater availability for local consumption.It
was hoped this would result in improved nutrition, higher income
and export products.
Phase
III aims to improve the post-harvest handling of fruit.
your
Samoan corresponents
Digby
and Alison
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