Conservation Agriculture and Sustainable Intensification of Smallholder Farming Systems in Pacific Countries as a Pathway to Transformational Climate Change Adaptation and Reducing GHG Emissions

ACIAR

Authors

Reeves, Tim and Ugalde, David and Gupta, Dorin and Mekala, Gayathri and Chauhan, Surinder Singh and Veitayaki, Joeli and Iese, Viliamu and Oakeshott, John and Iramu, Ellen and Hofmann, Rainer

Abstract

There is an opportunity and an urgent need for transformational change of the current farming systems in Pacific Island Countries (PIC) to increase food and nutritional security, to be better adapted to climate change and to be less emissive of greenhouse gases. Substantial global evidence indicates that Conservation Agriculture and Sustainable Intensification (CASI) systems are better adapted, but their effectiveness in PIC is yet to be fully evaluated. The overall aim of this Small Research Activity (SRA) was to undertake a targeted assessment to explore the opportunities for implementing CASI in smallholder farming systems as an adaptive and potentially transformational climate change response in PIC. This SRA was a Proof of Concept which identified and evaluated the research, technological, social and policy interventions required for future implementation and scaling of these more regenerative agrifood systems. It also identified key research and development sites for future work to compare the performance of CASI practices with the current commonly used systems. This SRA was a joint effort between Australian (The University of Melbourne) and New Zealand scientists (Lincoln University) and scientific partners in Samoa and Tonga, the University of the South Pacific, and The Pacific Community (SPC) and the in-country industry partners such as Samoa Farmers Association, and MORDI TT. The processes of project management put in place for this SRA became an exemplar of ways to deliver a project during the pandemic through effective planning, good organisation, hard work, and goodwill. The methodology in this SRA addressed a series of clearly defined research questions that collectively investigated, developed, and weighed CASI practices in selected systems for small holder farmers that provide options for increasing profitability and productivity, as well as emissions management and mitigation, and adaptation to climate change (incremental and transformational). Four farming systems across two Pacific Island countries - Samoa (Integrated crop-livestock and Taro-based root crop farming systems) and Tonga (Traditional mixed farming and Intensive monocropping systems) were selected to study the potential benefits of implementing CASI. A mixed-methods approach was employed as part of a convergent parallel design to collect and analyse data. Qualitative data was collected from primary and secondary sources. Quantitative data was collected partly from the focus group discussions and personal interviews (included both male and female farmers) and partly from secondary data sources through literature review, and strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis (covering-biophysical factors; social, institutional, and gender factors). This data provided insights into a typical farm, crops grown and various on-farm, off-farm practices; gendered roles and responsibilities; access to and control of farm resources by women and men in a farm household; access to various agricultural inputs and sources of information that aid farmers in production and marketing. This SRA involved creation of two Theories of Change (ToC). The first to guide this SRA (SRA ToC) and the second as an activity to create the pathway for a full CASI proposal. The goal of this SRA ToC was to understand the current farming systems in Samoa and Tonga and then build the outline and pathway for development of the full CASI proposal. This SRA provides detailed information to justify the proposed interventions to develop a CASI system that brings livelihood improvements to communities in Samoa and Tonga. Based on the current challenges identified in the four farming systems, the best possible synergetic CASI interventions and their combinations which should be validated under field conditions include: Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems Samoa: best genetic materials (crops and livestock) being Final report: Conservation Agriculture and Sustainable Intensification of Smallholder Farming Systems in Pacific Countries as a Pathway to Transformational Climate Change Adaptation and Reducing GHG Emissions 8 tested with nutrient cycling to minimise reliance on synthetic inputs and to improve soil health. Taro-based root crop farming systems in Samoa: best taro genetic materials to be tested with legumes being incorporated as rotational cover crops during fallow period along with testing of integrated pest and water management options. Traditional mixed farming systems and intensive monocropping systems in Tonga: notill/minimum till practice with best crop genetic materials to be tested with legumes being incorporated as rotational cover crops during fallow period along with testing of integrated pest and water management options. Conclusions and recommendations It is concluded that CASI has the potential to provide substantial and multiple benefits to all of the target farming systems of this SRA and to farming systems generally in Pacific Island Countries. These benefits include productivity, financial, environmental, social - especially related to gender equality - resilience to climate change, and greenhouse gas emissiveness. Recommendation 1: It is recommended that additional resources be directed to the processes of field-validation – at research sites and on-farm - for implementing CASI in Pacific Island Countries, including but not limited to project CROP/2020/186 currently under consideration by ACIAR. Recommendation 2: It is recommended that any further work utilises the significant new partnerships and networks formed in this SRA. This includes effective engagement with incountry farmer representatives, industry and research project partners at all steps in any new work. Recommendation 3: It is recommended that any further work continues to focus immediately on Samoa and Tonga, and that new opportunities be explored to broaden application of CASI to other Pacific Island Countries, possibly including through the channels of the Koronivia Joint Working Group on Agriculture, and other potential funding organisations. Recommendation 4: It is recommended that the learnings of this SRA and any further CASI projects are closely aligned with agricultural education and training providers in the Pacific Islands region, especially but not limited to USP. In the short term this could include postgraduate candidatures for field testing of CASI principles in Samoa and Tonga, and in the medium to long term, incorporation of the new knowledge into undergraduate and postgraduate courses as well as industry training