44 / 106
44
People of the South Pacific
nation of Kiribati lack vegetables
and fruits in their daily diet, which
has led to a prevalence of chronic
diseases and the highest incidence
of diabetes-related deaths in the
Pacific Islands. The TaiwanICDF has
thus implemented the “Horticulture
Project” since 2004, which aims to
elevate the production techniques of
fruits and vegetables and promote
the consumption of fresh produce
among the population.
I n 2 01 5 , we con t i nued t o
implement the six-year Horticulture
and Nutrition Enhancement Project.
In addition to creating new farms,
producing composts using local
materials, and using probiotics
and other technologies to enhance
production, the project also included
other activities such as improvements
to staff meal environment, menu
design, and nutrition monitoring
system, in expectation to enhance
the nutrition of student meals in
junior high schools. Concepts of
balanced and nutritious diets were
also promoted to further improve the
health of the people in Kiribati.
L i Yi - l ong g r adua t ed f rom
the Institute of Horticulture and
Landscape Architecture of National
Taiwan University and had previously
served in the Taiwan Youth Overseas
Service with the technical mission
stationed in Guatemala. His first
official posting with the TaiwanICDF
was as an overseas horticulture
technician in the Taiwan Technical
Mission in Kiribati. Yi-long describes
that there were many challenges in
conducting agricultural programs
in Kiribati. The nation is composed
of a series of atolls and its soil
is primarily composed of coral
sands, which contain few organic
matter and micronutrients. Lack of
water resources and groundwater
salinization also make crop cultivation
extremely difficult. Furthermore,
since daily life is dependent on
groundwater, the government has
prohibited the use of chemical
fertilizers and pesticides to prevent
contamination. Crops are therefore
easily ravaged by pests, leading to
the prevalence of “blossom end rot”
in cruciferous vegetables.
Natural farming techniques
against diseases and pests
Yi-long remembers how he arrived
in Kiribati many years ago and was
taken aback by the harshness of the
natural environment. Determined to
protect the disappearing paradise, he
started learning about natural farming
methods. Pig feces, coconut peels,
kitchen scraps, and other wastes
were used to create composts,
and the heat generated during the
composting process kills the eggs of
root-knot nematodes. Natural neem
oil, soapberry extracts and ladybugs
were also used to tackle a variety of
pests in the field. Powdered oyster
shells (biological calcium), guano
(phosphorus) and seaweed powder
(potassium and other micronutrients)
were used as fertilizers to help
improve the quality of produce and
sweetness of watermelons and
muskmelons.
Yi-long points out enthusiastically
that in addition to demonstrating
their achievements in the project,
their efforts were also openly praised
by Mr. Tiarite Kwong, Minister of
Environment, Lands and Agriculture
De v e l opmen t (MELAD ) . The
agricultural technologies developed
to meet the needs of the region
helped improve the quality and yield
of produce, organic farming helped
protect and achieve sustainable
farming, while improved dietary habits
reduced the prevalence of non-
communicable diseases, decreased
the government’s public health and
medical spending, and lengthened
the people’s life expectancy.
“Over these years, I have come to
deeply appreciate that we’re not here
to educate local residents with our
highly advanced farming techniques
and culture. Instead, we are here
to learn together how to better live
in harmony with the land, how to
make better use of resources around
us, and how to use innovations to
maximize the value of agriculture to
achieve true sustainable development
in this beautiful island country,” says
Yi-long with sincerity.
Li Yi-long, Technician, Taiwan Technical Mission in
Kiribati
Innovative solutions maximize the value
of agriculture and enable sustainable
development
2
Interview