Project Name：Horticulture Project (Palau)

Project status：Completed projects

Cooperating Country：Asia-Pacific, Palau

Project Description：The goal of this project is to support the Palauan government’s national policies and strategies regarding food security and balanced nutrition.

Overall, the project will:

1. Produce an annual output of 10 tons of fruits and vegetables over 8 hectares at the Taiwan Technical Mission’s (TTM’s) demonstration farm, as well as promote extension work over 7 hectares, counseling farmers to produce up to 20 tons of fruits and vegetables.
2. Assist the Palau-Taiwan Farmers’ Association (PTFA) in establishing and running farmers’ markets, and in establishing production and marketing systems.
3. Assist the Bureau of Agriculture (BOA) in producing 50,000 high-quality taro seedlings, transferring such techniques to BOA personnel.
4. Select three processed products and add value through the development of farmers’ markets, training farmers in the production and sale of such products.
5. Promote compost production techniques, reducing the use of chemical fertilizers.
6. Establish school gardens and promote a program of nutritious school lunches.

Project No：TCD-2011-E02

Implementation Start Date：2011-01-01

Implementation End Date：2015-12-31

Project Objectives：The objectives of this project are:

1. Demonstrate agricultural cultivation and production techniques over 8 hectares, producing 50 tons of fruits and vegetables; promote the production of 83 tons of fruits and vegetables by local farmers.
2. Assist farming organizations to establish and operate farmers’ markets, as well as sell agricultural products to six local hotels and restaurants.
3. Assist the Palauan Bureau of Agriculture to produce 50,000 taro seedlings and transfer associated techniques for the propagation of high-quality seedlings.
4. Select and develop a market for three agricultural products; provide training to farmers and build their capacity to package and market such products.
5. Produce 750 m3 of organic compost; effectively promote compost production techniques and reduce farmers’ use of chemical fertilizers.
6. Establish 14 school farms and promote a school lunch program.

Executing Agency：

1. Taiwan Technical Mission in the Republic of Palau
2. Bureau of Agriculture (Republic of Palau)

Current Progress：To the end of December 2015, the following activities have been completed:

In 2011:

1. Demonstration of agricultural cultivation and production techniques:
1. Produced a total of 13,522.3 kg of fruits and vegetables;
2. Conducted extension work with farmers over 1.5 hectares, producing a total of 10,589 kg of fruits and vegetables.
2. Production of taro seedlings:
1. Produced 41,673 seedlings at the demonstration farm for distribution to 167 extension farmers;
2. Assisted the BOA in producing 4,247 seedlings over 0.3 hectares for distribution to extension farmers.
3. Produced 152.25 cubic meters of compost.
4. Held training courses for 102 participants.

In 2012:

1. Demonstration of agricultural cultivation and production techniques:
1. Produced a total of 10,400.3 kg of fruits and vegetables over approximately 8 hectares;
2. Conducted extension work with farmers over 5.01 hectares, producing a total of 15,086 kg of fruits and vegetables.
2. Organized four farmers’ markets.
3. Production of taro seedlings:
1. Produced 33,710 seedlings over 0.9 hectares at the demonstration farm for distribution to 249 extension farmers;
2. Assisted the BOA in producing 23,700 seedlings over 0.6 hectares for distribution to 266 extension farmers.
4. Produced 151.6 cubic meters of compost.
5. Held training courses for 88 participants.

In 2013:

1. Demonstration of agricultural cultivation and production techniques:
1. Produced a total of 10,707.1 kg of fruits and vegetables over approximately 8 hectares;
2. Conducted extension work with farmers over 5.4 hectares, producing a total of 16,119 kg of fruits and vegetables.
2. Organized six farmers’ markets.
3. Production of taro seedlings:
1. Produced 16,575 seedlings over 0.6 hectares at the demonstration farm for distribution to 88 extension farmers;
2. Assisted the BOA in producing 24,302 seedlings over 0.9 hectares for distribution to 154 extension farmers.
4. Produced 154.1 cubic meters of compost.
5. Held training courses for 117 participants.

In 2014:

1. Demonstration of agricultural cultivation and production techniques:
1. Produced a total of 11,645.1 kg of fruits and vegetables over approximately 8 hectares;
2. Conducted extension work with farmers over 6.75 hectares, producing a total of 24,721.5 kg of fruits and vegetables.
2. Organized 27 farmers’ markets.
3. Production of taro seedlings:
1. Produced 29,085 seedlings over 0.3 hectares at the demonstration farm for distribution to 81 extension farmers;
2. Assisted the BOA in producing 67,113 seedlings over 1.2 hectares for distribution to 232 extension farmers.
4. Produced 150 cubic meters of compost.
5. Held five training courses for 91 participants.

In 2015:

1. Demonstration of agricultural cultivation and production techniques:
1. Produced a total of 13,304.57 kg of fruits and vegetables over approximately 8 hectares;
2. Conducted extension work with farmers over 9.305 hectares, producing a total of 29,451.75 kg of fruits and vegetables.
2. Organized 52 farmers’ markets.
3. Production of taro seedlings:
1. Produced 55,035 seedlings over 0.3 hectares at the demonstration farm for distribution to 325 extension farmers;
2. Assisted the BOA in producing 56,957 seedlings over 1.2 hectares for distribution to extension farmers.
4. Produced 159.07 cubic meters of compost.
5. Held 7 training courses for 78 participants.

Projected Benefits：

1. Assist farmers to increase production efficiency so as to reduce imports of fresh produce.
2. Assist personnel from the Bureau of Agriculture to adopt best practices for the propagation of taro seedlings.
3. Increase farmers’ incomes by developing a diverse range of agro-processed products.
4. Promote composting, organic farming and the sustainable use of agricultural land.
5. Develop agricultural technical know-how and human resources in Palau.

Mission：Taiwan Technical Mission in the Republic of Palau