Book chapter
Opportunities for and constraints to agroforestry expansion on underutilised land in western Viti Levu, Fiji
Promoting sustainable agriculture and agroforestry to replace unproductive land use in Fiji and Vanuatu, pp.62-74
ACIAR Monograph, MN191, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
2016
Abstract
Fieldwork in western Viti Levu, Fiji reveals that a substantial area of land is underutilised, including in the sugarcane belt. In many cases, the allotments leased contain some sloping land that is not suitable for sugarcane production but would be suitable for agroforestry. Opportunities for agroforestry arise from: a large number of useful tree species (including high-quality timber species) and food crop species; a chance to generate potentially large private and social benefits; and a history and skill base in agroforestry. The constraints appear to include: relatively low rainfall in winter months, limiting species choice; degraded land due to deforestation and frequent wildfire; insufficient resources among landholders for establishing agroforestry plantings; high management complexity of mixed-species agroforestry systems, including for crop protection; relatively low domestic timber demand and prices; supply and value chain issues for non-timber agroforestry products; land tenure uncertainty for long-rotation land uses; and lack of a lead agency for promoting this land use. Wildfire appears to be a major disincentive to establishing forestry and agroforestry, with numerous reasons for lighting fires being identified. The constraints identified suggest scope for policies to create a more favourable situation for forestry and agroforestry investment. Some relevant facilitation measures include: trials on improving degraded land at planting sites; a coordinated effort on wildfire control, probably at community level and including a fire surveillance system; improving the institutional environment for agroforestry planting, for example by developing a regional or national agroforestry statement or plan; increased use of demonstration sites and provision of extension services; provision of more financial information on the expected costs and returns from agroforestry plantings; and carefully designed financial assistance measures.
Details
- Title
- Opportunities for and constraints to agroforestry expansion on underutilised land in western Viti Levu, Fiji
- Authors
- Robert Harrison (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologySteve R Harrison (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and LawTevita Kete (Author) - Land Resources Division, Pacific Community (SPC), Fiji
- Contributors
- Steve R Harrison (Editor)Md Saiful Karim (Editor)
- Publication details
- Promoting sustainable agriculture and agroforestry to replace unproductive land use in Fiji and Vanuatu, pp.62-74
- Series
- ACIAR Monograph; MN191
- Publisher
- Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
- ISSN
- 1031-8194
- ISBN
- 9781925436617
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450603002621
- Output Type
- Book chapter
Metrics
321 Record Views