Report
Enhanced fruit production and postharvest handling systems for Fiji, Samoa and Tonga Final report: Enhanced fruit production and postharvest handling systems for Fiji, Samoa and Tonga - Final report
ACIAR
2021
Abstract
HORT/2014/077 achieved significant economic impact in Tonga (new citrus orchards established), social impact in Fiji (pineapple community practice change), important scientific impacts (dwarfing breadfruit, new postharvest diseases identified, strategies to aid breadfruit cyclone recovery), supported regional institutional capacity building, and increased awareness of the Pacific fruit industries in the region.
1. Four commercial-scale citrus orchards involving +600 grafted trees1 with an anticipated yield of 150 tonnes/year (in 2025) have now been established on Eua and Tongatapu Islands, Tonga. In 2020, the Tongan Government funded the importation of an additional 1500 grafted citrus trees to distribute to farmers. One of the citrus orchards we established on Tongatapu had its first commercial harvest in 2021, resulting in
significant interest amongst Tongan farmers to further expand local citrus production. Collectively, these achievements will enable long-term pro-health impacts in Tonga, due to increased local access to affordable locally grown fruit.
2. As a result of extensive pineapple industry capacity building support in Fiji, the Vulagi pineapple farmers have adopted contour planting (reducing soil erosion), have increased production by 30%, and secured significant Fiji Government support assistance to improve farm infrastructure and enabled diversification into pineapple value-adding.
3. Postharvest research, development and training capacity has been significantly improved in Fiji and Samoa. FNU, MoA and SROS now have PhD-level staff with expertise in postharvest horticulture.
4. A study of postharvest diseases of mango in Fiji identified six new stem-end rot pathogens on mango and C. brevisporum on papaya, diseases not previously reported on these crops in Fiji. This new knowledge will enable more effective postharvest control strategies to be developed.
5. A mango hot water treatment protocol was shown to reduce the incidence of postharvest rots by 95% for cv. Maqo Dina, 52% in cv. Tommy Atkins and 44% in cv. Tahitian. Further work is now required to evaluate commercial-scale treatments.
6. Paclobutrazol application significantly improved breadfruit flowering and fruit set following tree pruning. While application rates need to be optimised and local chemical registration sought, Paclobutrazol is likely to aid breadfruit tree recovery after a cyclone, by promoting early flowering and fruiting.
7. This project has increased the awareness of fruit industries in Fiji and Tonga. In April 2019, the Fiji Government launched its Fiji fruit industry development initiative. In Tonga, MORDI has built a new plant nursery and processing facility, and the Tonga Government has imported fruit trees to enhance farmer access.
8. Research undertaken by the project resulted in 18 research academic papers, 1 book, 7 conference papers and numerous technical reports.
This project also worked in close partnership with other donor initiatives. HORT/2014/077 and PHAMA+ co-funded the importation of +200 grafted Tahitian limes into Tonga creating two lime orchards on Tongatapu Island in support of a future export pathway, we collaborated with FAO FIRST programme and the youth in agriculture initiative through joint postharvest farmer capacity building in Tonga and Samoa, and we provided significant technical support and advice to the MORDI-led IFAD-TRIP 2 initiative in Tonga.
Details
- Title
- Enhanced fruit production and postharvest handling systems for Fiji, Samoa and Tonga Final report: Enhanced fruit production and postharvest handling systems for Fiji, Samoa and Tonga - Final report
- Authors
- Steven Underhill (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australian Centre for Pacific Islands ResearchDr Seeseei Molimau Samasoni (Author) - Scientific Research Organisation of SamoaSoane Patolo (Author) - MORDI Tonga TrustShalendra Prasad (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringSalesh Kumar (Author) - University of the South PacificIan Baker (Author) - MORDI Tonga TrustLogotonu Meleisea Waqainabete (Author)Yuchan Zhou (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australian Centre for Pacific Islands ResearchJohn Chapman (Author) - Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
- Publication details
- 70 pages
- Publisher
- ACIAR
- ISBN
- 9781922635532
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Sustainability Research Centre
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99584904202621
- Output Type
- Report
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