Objectives

POLFN has four components in its regional implementation through the Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community with SPC:

1. Establishment of one or two environmentally sustainable and economically viable Organic Learning Farms per country
2. Training of ‘First Circle Farmers’ that will be supported in converting their farms to implementing organic and agroecological practices
3. Development of market mechanisms for a diversity of crops and forest products
4. Improved access to knowledge and capacity to enhance conservation and use of biodiversity through agroecological systems

Activities

Seven Organic Learning Farms have been selected and are now being established.

• In Fiji, the Mudrenicagi Farm in Vanua Levu and the Navuso Agriculture Institute in Viti Levu.
• In Nauru, the Max Dowedia Farm.
• In Tonga, the Ovava Farm in Vava’u and the Mahuleva Farm in Tongatapu.
• In the Solomon Islands, the Gwaunafiu Farmer school in Malaita province and the Zai Na Tina organic demonstration & research farm in Guadalcanal, with Kastom Gaden association involved.

More than 300 farmers have been selected across the seven OLFs to be part of this first circle. Through this network, they aim to increase their biodiversity and overall resilience.

Furthermore, the project aspires to connect these farmers to the market by developing value chain options, including organic certification.  To better integrate gender equity and social inclusion in the project activities, a Gender Equity and Social Inclusion or GESI plan has been produced.

Project Partners

The POLFN project is supported by the Kiwa Initiative. The Kiwa Initiative is a multi-donor programme with funding from the European Union in the Pacific, AFD - Agence Française de Développement, Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada, Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Kiwa Initiative has established partnerships with the Pacific-Community-SPC, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme - SPREP and the IUCN Oceania

Contact

Timoci Nakalevu, POLFN Project Manager: [email protected] 

Website – www.organicpasifika.net