Linking Market Development To Farming Systems In The Pacific Islands

This wide-ranging volume captures the diverse range of societies and experiences that form what has come to be known as Melanesia. It covers prehistoric, historic and contemporary issues, and includes work by art historians, political scientists, geographers and anthropologists. The chapters range from studies of subsistence, ritual and ceremonial exchange to accounts of state violence, new media and climate change. The ‘Melanesian world’ assembled here raises questions that cut to the heart of debates in the human sciences today, with profound implications for the ways in which scholars across disciplines can describe and understand human difference. This impressive collection of essays represents a valuable resource for scholars and students alike.

Part of the 'Pacific 2010' series which focuses on the need to plan for the long term requirements of the island states of the South Pacific. Addresses strategic questions about the longer-term development of Melanesian agriculture in the light of current problems and emerging trends in the environment. Suggests ways of changing agriculture to become a powerful part of Melanesian economies by the year 2010. Includes a bibliography and index. J Brian Hardaker is professor and head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management at the University of New England. Euan Fleming is a lecturer in agricultural economies at the University of New England.

Many islands import most of their food, much of which is calorie-dense and of low nutritional value. It may be cheaper than local produce, but a diet based on imported food is leading to a whole range of health problems. All too often, nutritious indigenous foods are ignored by local populations, as they are seen as ‘poor people’s food’. Tourism has been rapidly expanding in both regions, yet there is a disconnect between the tourist market and local producers. Indeed, 70% of the food used in the tourist industry in the Pacific is imported. As this booklet shows, creating closer links between tourism and agriculture – agritourism – can help to reduce the food import bill and at the same time boost local food production, and therefore the incomes of island farmers. With support from the intra-ACP Agricultural Policy Programme funded by the European Union, CTA has been actively promoting links between the two regions and encouraging them to share their knowledge and experience. On the one hand, CTA has provided policy support which has brought together government ministries with the private sector to promote agritourism. CTA also played a key role in establishing the Chefs for Development Initiative, which is creating closer links between the hospitality industry and local farmers. Over time, these endeavours will help to generate income and employment across the value chain.

Agrifood systems in Asia and the Pacific can be strengthened by tapping on agrifood-tourism linkages. When tourism and agrifood systems interact, both synergies and competition appear. Agriculture and tourism compete between themselves and other sectors for land, water, labour, capital, and transport and logistics services. Cross-sectoral synergies arise when agriculture and tourism influence each other through their respective demand conditions and changes in the enabling environment. These cross-sectoral synergies can be instrumental in strengthening agrifood systems in the region and addressing interlinked crises in the post-pandemic era.Governments across Asia and the Pacific have acknowledged the potential of tapping into agrifood- tourism linkages to advance sustainable development in both urban (food tourism) and rural areas (mostly agricultural tourism), and are implementing efforts to develop this subsector.Agrifood-tourism linkages can create income-generating opportunities for farmers and tourism operators, boost employment and stimulate overall economic growth, promote the development of sustainable agrifood systems, prevent rural youth outmigration and help preserve culinary and agricultural heritage.This publication guides policymakers in the region in the preparation of a strategic plan aimed at developing agrifood tourism and the tourism food value chain as drivers of sustainable development. The successful positioning of a country or location as a culinary or agricultural tourism destination and the creation of synergies between the agriculture and tourism sectors requires a shared vision and coordination between policymakers, destination managers, tourism and agrifood businesses, chefs, farmers and other key stakeholders.

This study of Polynesian agriculture examines the economies of Suva, Western Samoa, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Niue. Discusses topics such as the contribution of agriculture to economic development, marketing strategies and institutional change, as well as the prospects for agricultural development in the region. In the 'Pacific 2010' series. Includes a bibliography and an index. Fleming is lecturer in economics and Hardaker is a former professor and head of the department of agricultural and research economics at the University of New England.