Exploring Urban Agriculture Options for Fiji Carolyn A. Campbell Global Resource Systems Faculty of Land and Food Systems 2007

Outline Terminology The Fijian Context Research Questions & Methods Results Reflections

Terminology

The Fijian Context

Research Questions & Methods

Results

Reflections

Terminology Food Security Available, Affordable, Appropriate, Accessible, Safe, Sustainable Sustainable Development Urban agriculture/agroforestry

Food Security

Available, Affordable, Appropriate, Accessible, Safe, Sustainable

Sustainable Development

Urban agriculture/agroforestry

Source : Google Earth (2007)

Source : Google Earth (2007)

The Fijian Context History British Colonization Market-orientated development Labour and Land Political instability People Indo-Fijian Indian Fijian Others

History

British Colonization

Market-orientated development

Labour and Land

Political instability

People

Indo-Fijian

Indian Fijian

Others

The Fijian Context Urbanization Diet Colonization Food Insecurity Ecocultural change

Urbanization

Diet Colonization

Food Insecurity

Ecocultural change

Research Questions Is there a need to supply food grown in urban environments for urban consumption? What urban agriculture strategies could be employed in urban Fiji?

Is there a need to supply food grown in urban environments for urban consumption?

What urban agriculture strategies could be employed in urban Fiji?

Methods In determining a need for urban agriculture: Basic trade statistics Food Balance sheets Health indicators Government legislation, programs and policies In suggesting strategies and forecasting drawbacks and benefits Case studies

In determining a need for urban agriculture:

Basic trade statistics

Food Balance sheets

Health indicators

Government legislation, programs and policies

In suggesting strategies and forecasting drawbacks and benefits

Case studies

Is there a need for UA in Suva? Home Gardens widespread? Gardening on 70% “unused” in 1993 So why look into urban agriculture? Source : Thaman (1993)

Home Gardens widespread?

Gardening on 70% “unused” in 1993

So why look into urban agriculture?

Is there a need for UA in Suva? Trade Statistics Source : World Bank (Nov 2006) Year Year Year Year Year Year 2007/p 2006 /p 2005 /e 2004 2003 2002

Is there a need for UA in Suva? Trade Statistics Source : World Bank (Nov 2006) Year Year Year Year Year Year 2007/p 2006 /p 2005 /e 2004 2003 2002

Is there a need for UA in Suva? Current Events Job loss Floods - increase in market food prices

Job loss

Floods - increase in market food prices

Is there a need for UA in Suva? Current Events

Is there a need for UA in Suva? Indicators of Health Source : Fiji Bureau of Statistics

Is there a need for UA in Suva? Indicators of Health Source : Fiji Bureau of Statistics

Is there a need for UA in Suva? Urbanization and Overweight Prevalences Source : WHO

Is there a need for UA in Suva? Trends in Dietary Consumption Source : FAO STAT

Is there a need for UA in Suva? What’s Changed? Source : WHO

Where have all the roots gone? Source : WHO (2003)

Is there a need for UA in Suva? Policy Change Import Substitution Sector-led 2001 - Indigenous Fijian Village focus No urban agriculture polices - part of the informal sector

Import Substitution

Sector-led

2001 - Indigenous Fijian Village focus

No urban agriculture polices - part of the informal sector

Reflection - Is Urban Agriculture Needed in Suva? Not necessarily, but it could be a powerful tool Government could promote increase in vegetable production in rural areas instead Need to address health trends

Not necessarily, but it could be a powerful tool

Government could promote increase in vegetable production in rural areas instead

Need to address health trends

Reflection - Is Urban Agriculture Needed in Suva? Benefits for Suva Economic Increase terms of trade Potential support the informal sector Employment Income generation Enhances food security Access, availability, affordability, appropriate, safe, sustainable

Benefits for Suva

Economic

Increase terms of trade

Potential support the informal sector

Employment

Income generation

Enhances food security

Access, availability, affordability, appropriate, safe, sustainable

Reflection - Is Urban Agriculture Needed in Suva? Health Benefits Affordable healthy food Lifestyle alteration Increasing traditional foods - healthier Social benefits Cultural awareness and tolerance Regain traditional knowledge

Health Benefits

Affordable healthy food

Lifestyle alteration

Increasing traditional foods - healthier

Social benefits

Cultural awareness and tolerance

Regain traditional knowledge

What could UA look like in Suva? Models How can UA fit into Suva? Home Gardens Demonstrations Solomon Islands - Ministry of Health Fruit Gleaning Securing creation of community gardens

How can UA fit into Suva?

Home Gardens

Demonstrations

Solomon Islands - Ministry of Health

Fruit Gleaning

Securing creation of community gardens

What could UA look like in Suva? Models Hotel Gardens Showcasing traditional gardens City farms supplying low income areas Cuba Latin America

Hotel Gardens

Showcasing traditional gardens

City farms supplying low income areas

Cuba

Latin America

Closing Reflections Opportunity to re-think how we use our urban space Opportunity to use urban centres as places for re-valuing and regaining traditional knowledge Opportunity to change urban dietary habits and lifestyles

Opportunity to re-think how we use our urban space

Opportunity to use urban centres as places for re-valuing and regaining traditional knowledge

Opportunity to change urban dietary habits and lifestyles

References Earthtrends (2003): “Agriculture and Food - Fiji” Earthtrends Country Profile . Accessed from http://earthtrends.wri.org FAO (2003). The WTO Agreement on Agriculture: The Implementation Experience - Developing Country Case Studies http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/Y4632E/y4632e0d.htm Sharma KL, (2006). “Food Security in the South Pacific Island Countries with Special Reference to the Fiji Islands.” World Institute for Development Economic Research. United Nations University. Batibasaqa, K, Overton, J, Horsely, P, (1999). “Vanua: Land People and Culture in Fiji” ch 8 in, Strategies for Sustainable Development: Experiences form the Pacific . New York: Zed Books. Kuhlken, R, (2002). “Intensive Agriculture Landscapes of Oceania.” Journal of Cultural Geography . 19(2):161-195. Overton, J, Murray, W, Ali, I, (1999). “Commodity Production and Unsustainable Agriculture” ch 13 in, Strategies for Sustainable Development: Experiences form the Pacific . New York: Zed Books. Schultz, JT, (2004). “Globalization, Urbanisation and nutrition transition in a developing island country: a case study in Fiji” in Globalization of Food Systems in Developing Countries: Impact on Food Security and Nutrition (pp.195-214). Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Sharma, KL, (2006). “Food Security in the South Pacific Island Countries with Special Reference to the Fiji Islands.” World Institute for Development Economic Research . United Nations University. Thaman, RR, (1982). “Deterioration of traditional food systems, increasing malnutrition and food dependency in the Pacific Islands.” Journal of Food and Nutrition. 39(3):109-121. Thaman, RR, (1993). “Pacific Island urban agroforestry” ch 7 in Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands. Tokyo: United Nations University Press. World Health Organization (2003). “Diet, Food Supply and Obesity in the South Pacific.” Regional office for the Western Pacific. Accessed from: http://www.wpro.who.int/publications/pub_9260610441.htm

Earthtrends (2003): “Agriculture and Food - Fiji” Earthtrends Country Profile . Accessed from http://earthtrends.wri.org

FAO (2003). The WTO Agreement on Agriculture: The Implementation Experience - Developing Country Case Studies http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/Y4632E/y4632e0d.htm

Sharma KL, (2006). “Food Security in the South Pacific Island Countries with Special Reference to the Fiji Islands.” World Institute for Development Economic Research. United Nations University.

Batibasaqa, K, Overton, J, Horsely, P, (1999). “Vanua: Land People and Culture in Fiji” ch 8 in, Strategies for Sustainable Development: Experiences form the Pacific . New York: Zed Books.

Kuhlken, R, (2002). “Intensive Agriculture Landscapes of Oceania.” Journal of Cultural Geography . 19(2):161-195.

Overton, J, Murray, W, Ali, I, (1999). “Commodity Production and Unsustainable Agriculture” ch 13 in, Strategies for Sustainable Development: Experiences form the Pacific . New York: Zed Books.

Schultz, JT, (2004). “Globalization, Urbanisation and nutrition transition in a developing island country: a case study in Fiji” in Globalization of Food Systems in Developing Countries: Impact on Food Security and Nutrition (pp.195-214). Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Sharma, KL, (2006). “Food Security in the South Pacific Island Countries with Special Reference to the Fiji Islands.” World Institute for Development Economic Research . United Nations University.

Thaman, RR, (1982). “Deterioration of traditional food systems, increasing malnutrition and food dependency in the Pacific Islands.” Journal of Food and Nutrition. 39(3):109-121.

Thaman, RR, (1993). “Pacific Island urban agroforestry” ch 7 in Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands. Tokyo: United Nations University Press.

World Health Organization (2003). “Diet, Food Supply and Obesity in the South Pacific.” Regional office for the Western Pacific. Accessed from: http://www.wpro.who.int/publications/pub_9260610441.htm

Undergoing Undergrad Research - My MURC Experience Understanding the contexts of the South Pacific before I travel Getting lost in the data Stress and Time

Understanding the contexts of the South Pacific before I travel

Getting lost in the data

Stress and Time