Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island ...

October

Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region Livestock Production and Climate Change 2 October 2011

C h r i s t i n e C . J o s t , D V M , M A ; P O B o x 2 0 3 0 9 , N a i r o b i 0 0 1 0 0 , K e n y a ; T e l : + 2 5 4 -‐ 7 3 6 -‐ 7 1 5 -‐ 4 1 7 , E m a i l : c . j o s t @ c g i a r . o r g

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Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Region

Table of Contents

Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................................... 2 Acronyms ...................................................................................................................................................... 3 Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................. 4 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 7 Consultation Objectives ....................................................................................................................... 10 Objective 1: SPC Livestock and Climate Change Workshop ................................................ 11 Objective 2: Climate Change and the SPC AHP Theme .......................................................... 12 Animal Health and Production Theme Structure ................................................................ 12 AHP Program of Activities ............................................................................................................. 13 Objectives 3 and 4: Data Management in the LRD .................................................................. 15 Objective 5: Vanuatu ............................................................................................................................ 19 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................... 26 Bibliography .............................................................................................................................................. 28 Appendix 1: Recommendations from Expert Livestock Team for Improvements in Pele Island Pig Facility .......................................................................................................................... 33

Livestock Production and Climate Change

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Acronyms AHP AusAID CCCPIR FABN FAO GIZ ICE ILRI IPPC LRD M&E MOU NAPA NARS NZAID OIE PACVET PAHIS PAHLNet PCRAFI PHOVAPS PICT PLD PRIPPP SOPAC SPC SPS SWPAnGr WAHID WHO WTO

Animal Health and Production of the SPC Australian Agency for International Development Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region Establishing a Food Animal Biosecurity Network Project Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations German Development Cooperation Information, Communication and Extension of the SPC International Livestock Research Institute International Plant Protection Convention Land Resources Division of the SP monitoring and evaluation Memorandum of Understanding National Adaptation Program of Action national agricultural research services New Zealand Agency for International Development World Animal Health Organization Pacific Veterinary Network Pacific Animal Health Information System Pacific Animal Health Laboratory Network Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative Pacific Heads of Veterinary and Animal Production Services Pacific Island Countries and Territories Pacific Islands Pest List Database Pacific Regional Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Project Applied Geoscience and Technology Division of the SPC Secretariat of the Pacific Community Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement of the WTO South West Pacific Animal Genetics Resources Network World Animal Health Information Database World Health Organization World Trade Organization


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Executive Summary

Although climate models show that temperature increase in the Pacific Region will be less severe than in other regions, this climate hazard likely poses the greatest threat to the region’s livestock. Heat stress will negatively affect production and reproduction in all species, and increase disease susceptibility. Higher producing temperate breeds will be more severely affected than indigenous breeds or those imported from tropical regions with similar climate profiles to that expected for the region in the next 50-‐100 years. Other climate hazards, including increased frequency and duration of droughts, increased severity and frequency of flooding, cyclones with greater intensity, more severe storm surges, salt water intrusion, salt spray from sea level rise, and more variable rainfall with more extreme high and low daily rainfall totals, will all negatively affect livestock directly or the infrastructure necessary for livestock production. Impacts will include reduced availability and cost of feeds and fodder, spoilage of standing pasture and stored feeds, flooding of production and processing facilities such as milk collection centers and abattoirs, the spread of diseases and threats to public health from animal waste and carcasses during flood events, damage to barns, shelters and shade trees, and losses of critical infrastructure such as roads that will result in massive losses in products with short storage lives such as milk and fresh meat when climate related disasters occur. A ‘Livestock and Climate Change Workshop’ was held at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) offices, Nabua, Suva from 22-‐25 August 2011. Workshop participants developed a list of adaptation recommendations, including housing, breeding, feeding, watering, pasture management, waste management, disease management and disaster planning. Livestock adaptations should be packaged with cropping approaches so that systems as a whole become resilient to climate change. Developing adaptation technologies requires a program of targeted action research facilitated by the SPC and carried out in partnership with national agricultural research services (NARS), universities and international partners. The Animal Health And Production theme (AHP) of the SPC has developed a 5-‐year strategic plan for mainstreaming climate change into its activities. Given the time scales required to develop, test and scale-‐out adaptations appropriate for the region, implementation of this strategic plan is urgent. For example, the Vanuatu livestock program could easily be phased into a research and production unit that conducts controlled, repeatable tests of promising adaptations to priority hazards, supports operational research of promising adaptations with farmers to measure impact and feasibility, and produces proven technologies for scaling-‐out to local farmers.


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As its key climate change partner, the SPC has developed a request that German Development Cooperation (GIZ) support the following elements of its strategic plan: • Activity 1.2: In collaboration with SOPAC and the SPC Statistics for Development Division, develop a GIS-based system for climate change risk assessment and resiliency planning for the livestock sector. • Activity 1.3: Support the process of livestock climate disaster planning at village, national and regional levels. • Activity 2.3: Develop and disseminate climate adapted breeds and lines of chickens and pigs. • Activity 2.5: Develop and disseminate climate appropriate livestock housing technologies adapted from current SPC designs. These technologies will be developed and tested in partnership with one or more national agricultural research services (NARS). • Activity 4.1: Establish a program to support member countries in integrating livestock advice into seasonal forecast information production and dissemination. • Activity 4.3: Implement a program of annual climate change training for AHP and stakeholders on key technical topics. • Activity 4.4: Establish program of AHP visits, information sharing and networking with livestock units in other regional organizations, to facilitate transfer of knowledge and experiences related to adapting livestock to climate change. An important service provided by the AHP to its regional partners is maintenance of databases on livestock resources and diseases. The AHP should also develop a mechanism for measuring the impact of AHP activities, particularly those targeted towards increasing the resiliency of the region’s livestock sector to climate change. Achievements should be reported annually to development and national partners. Climate change is a global issue whose impacts are already being felt by farmers around the world. We must begin to adapt now, if we are to have resilient agricultural systems in the future. Because it is a transboundary challenge with unique regional implications, building the capacity of technical groups in regional organizations such as the SPC to advise member states is a priority. The following documents are outputs of this consultation: 1. Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region Project: Livestock Production and Climate Change, consultancy report by Christine Jost 2. Livestock and Climate Change Workshop Report, Nabua, Suva, August 2011 3. Climate change and livestock fact sheets: a. Climate Change and Livestock in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (a fact sheet for decision-‐makers) b. Climate Change Adaptation for Smallholder Cattle Farmers c. Climate Change Adaptation for Smallholder Chicken Farmers d. Climate Change Adaptation for Smallholder Pig Farmers e. Climate Change Adaptation for Smallholder Goat and Sheep Farmers


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f. Climate Change Adaptation for Small Holder Honey Bees Farmers 4. AHP 5-‐year Strategic Plan for Mainstreaming Climate Change, including Gantt diagram of timeframe 5. Mainstreaming Climate Change in the Work of the AHP: Request for Support from the GIZ CCCPIR Program


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Introduction

This background is based on a review of the formal and grey literature, discussions with livestock experts in Fiji and Vanuatu, and village visits in Fiji and Vanuatu. There are some commonalities and much diversity in livestock production practices in the Pacific Region. This review provides a general introduction to the region’s livestock and is not intended to capture all nuances. Pigs and chickens arrived in the region over 3,000 years ago, and have undergone adaptation to local environments since that time (Manueli, 2007)(SPC, 2007) (SPC, 2007). There are no indigenous cattle, horses, small ruminants or other livestock species in the region, although village-‐level cross breeding has resulted in the presence of a ‘village’ or ‘local’ type animal for these species. Pig production: Closer to urban areas backyard producers most commonly construct small pens from locally available materials, such as cast offs from fencing and roofs, with concrete or dirt floors and no or partial roofs. Animals from one family are housed in one enclosure, with several enclosures grouped together away from houses. More rural areas built small, slatted floor, roofed shelters in mangroves or along waterways that allow for easy waste management. Villages may also build large palisade or stone enclosures for animals from several families. Free-‐range pigs are also common. Pigs are feed food scraps, and where available mixed mill with a corn and coconut base. There are extant indigenous pig populations, however breeding seems to be random with no production objective. This may be causing increased introduction of improved breed genetics into the local pig populations, particularly nearer to urban areas or commercial facilities. Pigs are generally kept for community consumption during festivals and celebration, rarely sold. There are semi-‐commercial and commercial producers of swine in Fiji, and likely elsewhere in the region. The most common improved breeds are Large White, Landrace and Duroc. Commercial units tend to be fully climate controlled. There appears to be no consumer preference between indigenous and improved breed meat, and prices are usually the same. Chicken production: Backyard producers most commonly leave poultry free-‐range, or build night shelters from locally available materials. It is common practice to introduce new birds into backyard flocks including improved breed hens and roosters, thereby introducing improved breed genetics into indigenous chicken populations. However, a recent study indicates that limited dilution of indigenous genetic stock has occurred (ILRI Beijing communication to SPC, 23 August 2010). Backyard poultry are generally left to scavenge, and are usually consumed in the


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home. Indigenous birds are usually preferred over broilers, and fetch a higher price from urban consumers. Commercial broilers, sectors two and three, are widely produced in Fiji, which supplies its Pacific Island neighbors. This trade is facilitated by the relative scarcity of avian diseases of concern in the region. The annual population of broilers in Fiji is higher than indigenous birds. The commercial broiler sector in other countries is smaller. There is no grandparent stock in the region. Facilities of some sector two suppliers of day old chicks are fully bio-‐secure. Commercial layers are also produced in the region, with a focus industry again found in Fiji. Commercial breeds include Rhode Island Red, Australorp, Leghorn, Plymouth Rock and crosses. Cattle: Backyard producers most commonly tether stake their animals, including throughout the night to graze an area before the animal is moved and tethered (tethered) in another location. Enclosures or shelters are found, but are not common. Most villages have common grazing areas or improved pastures. These animals tend to be dual purpose, the result of random crossing in the village setting. Commercial beef ranching is also practiced in the region, with a focus industry in Vanuatu. Breeds include Santa Gertrudis, Brahman, Hereford, Limousine and Charolaise. Commercial facilities tend to be smaller with herds from 50 to several hundred, although in Vanuatu a few larger ranches with herds of 1,000 or more can be found. Vanuatu exports regionally, as well as to Japan and Australia. This export trade is facilitated by the country’s freedom from bovine diseases of concern, including brucellosis and tuberculosis. Commercial dairy facilities also exist, with a focus industry in Fiji. Breeds include Friesian and Jersey, most commonly crossed with frequent introduction of Brahman. Production is primary on small to medium scale farms of 100 animals or less, with processing facilities serving rural areas. However, the region remains a net importer of dairy products. Fiji, as the region’s largest dairy producer, meets only 16% of local demand. Small ruminants: Both sheep and goats are found in the region, although goats are more common. Backyard producers most commonly stake their animals. Small-‐ scale producers my also build zero-‐grazing shelters, most often slatted floor roofed shelters. Breeds include Anglo Nubian, Saanen and Boer goats. Fiji has developed and promotes a local crossbreed hair-‐ type sheep called the Fiji Fantastic. Climate change and agriculture: During this consultation farmers reported observing shifts in seasons (changes to the timing of seasonal starts and ends), increased lengths of dry spells between rains, abnormal levels of humidity during the dry winter months prevents the soil from drying out as it did in the past, night times during the winter are generally not as cold, but the cold extremes seem more severe, mosquitos which were usually only present during the rainy summer


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months are now present all year round, summer months are hotter both in the day and night times, rivers are less full, pigs show heat discomfort, particularly during the afternoon of the summer months, and dairy cattle are showing decreased production and increased somatic cell counts during the summer months. Agricultural extension policy in the region has been to encourage backyard and small-‐scale producers to improve production through breeding, housing and nutrition. Although indigenous tropical species tend to suffer from low production and reproduction parameters that make them poor performers in comparison to improved breeds from temperate regions (Pilling & Hoffmann, 2011), there are potentially traits in chickens and pigs indigenous to the Pacific Region that may prove advantageous for the region’s changing climate. These include physiological and phenotypic adaptations to hot and humid environments such as hair and feather color and construct, smaller, thinner bodies that allow for faster heat dissipation, productivity when consuming poor local feeds, potential tolerance of feeds and water with higher salt content, and tolerance of or flight mechanisms for standing water and flooding. Given that the improved breeds present in the Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) are more susceptible to high temperatures and other climate extremes already experienced in the region, we can expect that their susceptibilities will be exacerbated by expect changes to PICT regional climate over the next 50-‐100 years. The genetically regulated tolerance in the region’s indigenous pig and chicken species, as well as breeds developed in tropical versus temperate regions, may prove to be a valuable resource for the region’s livestock producers in the near future (Pilling & Hoffmann, 2011) (Renaudeau, Huc, & Noblet, 2007) (Scharf, 2008). Although global climate models are in agreement that temperature increase in the Pacific Region will be less severe than in other regions, this climate hazard likely poses the greatest continuous threat to the region’s livestock (Mimura et al., 2007). Temperatures are expected to increase by 0.3 – 0.7⁰C above today’s levels by 2050 (Brian Dawson, personal communication, 10 August 2011). Behavioral responses to heat stress, which is an effect of the combination of temperature and humidity, includes decreased appetite, increased water intake, and lethargy or increased aggression (Cooper & Washburn, 1998) (Rinaldo, Dividich, & Noblet, 2000) (Sharma, 1968) (Thatcher et al., 2010). Physiological responses include increased metabolism causing increased body temperatures, production of heat proteins, production of reactive oxygen species and decreased lactation, all of which cause decreases in production of milk, eggs and weight gain (Bohmanova, Misztal, & Cole, 2007) (Borges, Fischer da Silva, Majorka, Hooge, & Cummings, 2004) (P J Hansen, 2004) (T. T. T. Huynh et al., 2005) (Mashaly et al., 2004) (Nardone, Ronchi, Lacetera, & Bernabucci, 2006). Because metabolism increases exponentially with increasing temperature, the magnitude of metabolic shifts can be expected to be much higher in tropical climates (Dillon, Wang, & Huey, 2010). Heat stress also negatively impacts spermatogenesis and oocyte production, embryo implantation and placenta


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formation, resulting in fewer breeding successes, increased abortion rates, and decreasing reproductive performance (Peter J Hansen, 2009). Stressed animals are also more prone to diseases as the functionality of their immune systems decrease (de la Rocque, Rioux, & Slingenbergh, 2008). Higher producing temperate breeds in the region will be more severely affected by heat stress than indigenous breeds or those imported from tropical regions with similar climate profiles to that expected for the South Pacific in the next 50-‐100 years. Other climate hazards expected in the region, including increased frequency and duration of droughts, increased severity and frequency of flooding, cyclones with greater intensity, more severe storm surges, salt water intrusion, salt spray from sea level rise, and more variable rainfall with more extreme high and low daily rainfall totals will all negatively affect livestock directly or the infrastructure necessary for livestock production (Mimura et al., 2007) (Reti, 2007). Impacts will include reduced availability and cost of feeds and fodder, spoilage of standing pasture and stored feeds, flooding of production and processing facilities such as milk collection centers and abattoirs, the spread of diseases and threats to public health from animal waste and carcasses during flood events, damage to barns, shelters and shade trees, and losses of critical infrastructure such as roads that will result in massive losses in products with short storage lives such as milk and fresh meat when climate related disasters occur (Tubiello, Soussana, & Howden, 2007) (Pilling & Hoffmann, 2011). In smallholder settings, livestock production is part of an integrated farming system. Interventions should package livestock adaptations with cropping approaches, and should focus on overall resiliency of socio-‐ecological systems to all potential future shocks, including those associated with climate change (Barnett, 2001) (Bennett et al., 2011) (Reti, 2007) (Velde, Green, Vanclooster, & Clothier, 2006) (FAO, 1998).

Consultation Objectives

1. Design and conduct a workshop, including collating and developing necessary resource materials, to increase the awareness of participants and develop their capacity to address the possible impacts of climate on the livestock sector in the pacific region. 2. In conjunction with Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and member government staff, design a program of activities to improve the resilience of Pacific livestock systems to expected climate change impacts. 3. Rapidly review existing information and data available to assess climate change impacts on livestock in the Pacific highlighting major gaps. This should include a review of the SPC’s Animal Health and Production (AHP) Theme’s current and recently completed program to extract useful data and information.


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4. Initial review of the AHP Animal Genetic survey funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to assess the study’s suitability for capturing data necessary to assess the resilience of particular livestock breeds to environmental and climatic factors. 5. Review the swine-‐breeding program in Vanuatu, supported by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region (CCCPIR), and provide technical input and advice to the proposed activities, recommending adjustments where necessary.

Objective 1: SPC Livestock and Climate Change Workshop A ‘Livestock and Climate Change Workshop’ was held at the SPC offices, Nabua, Suva from 22-‐25 August 2011. The workshop included 17 participants, mainly livestock technical staff from the SPC and governments of Fiji and Vanuatu, as well as dairy sector stakeholders from Fiji. The participatory workshop format emphasized the knowledge and experience of the participants. Outputs included identification of the climate hazards likely to impact Pacific Region livestock production over the next 50-‐100 years, identification of the diverse actors that participate in the various livestock value chains and that will be impacted by the region’s changing climate, identification of the overall drivers of change in the region’s livestock sector, identification of the impacts that climate change will have on livestock production in the region, identification of mechanisms for adapting the region’s livestock sector to climate change, and draft concept notes for livestock adaptation trials. Workshop participants developed a list of adaptation recommendations, including housing, breeding, feeding, watering, pasture management, waste management, disease management and disaster planning (Chanpongsang, Choktananukul, Jamikorn, Chaiyabutr, & Suadsong, 2010) (T. Huynh, a Aarnink, Truong, Kemp, & M. Verstegen, 2006) (D. Indetie et al., 2010) (Kumar, Ajeet, & Meena, 2011) (Renaudeau et al., 2010) (Gero, M´eheux, & Dominey-‐Howes, 2011) (FAO, 2011) (Gero & Méheux, 2010) (Terry & Khatri, 2009). Livestock adaptations should be packaged with cropping approaches so that systems as a whole become resilient to climate change. The workshop report can be downloaded from the SPC website at http://www.spc.int/index.php. An important recommendation of the workshop participants was that the AHP develop livestock and climate change fact sheets for decision-‐makers and small-‐ scale producers. The AHP took this up as an urgent mandate, and in the week following the workshop worked with the consultant to produce the following factsheets: • Climate Change and Livestock in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (a fact sheet for decision-‐makers) • Climate Change Adaptation for Smallholder Cattle Farmers • Climate Change Adaptation for Smallholder Chicken Farmers


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Climate Change Adaptation for Smallholder Pig Farmers Climate Change Adaptation for Smallholder Goat and Sheep Farmers Climate Change Adaptation for Smallholder Honey Bees Farmers

The workshop participants also recommended that the AHP further develop the concept notes started in the workshop and submit them to donors. The AHP team decided to develop these concept notes as integral components of a five-‐year strategic plan for mainstreaming climate change into the work of the AHP, and to use the strategic plan to attract the interest of and secure funding from development partners (see below).

Objective 2: Climate Change and the SPC AHP Theme

Animal Health and Production Theme Structure The SPC is broken into six divisions, each of which is home to several thematic teams. The newest division to join the SPC is Pacific Island Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC). The AHP falls under the Land Resources Division (LRD). The objectives of the LRD include improved food and nutritional security, integrated and sustainable agricultural forestry and resource management and development, and improved biosecurity and increased trade in agriculture and forestry products in PICTs. Climate change adaptation is seen as a key factor in assuring food security for the region (figure 1). The AHP theme has five teams: animal disease investigation and response, veterinary public health, paraveterinarian development and training, animal genetic resources, and animal production. The AHP takes its direction from the LRD, as well as the Pacific Heads of Veterinary and Animal Production Services (PHOVAPS), who meet every two years to determine regional programs. Figure 1: Structure of the Land Resources Division of the SPC*


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From http://www.spc.int/lrd/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=388&Itemid=31, downloaded 31 August 2011

AHP Program of Activities The AHP has three major foci. In public health they work to improve food hygiene in the region, and to encourage ‘OneHealth’ approaches that bring together animal and public health professionals to address public health issues. In livestock sector development, they work to improve markets and market access, livestock production and import substitution. In veterinary services they work to build national capacity for disease surveillance and control, focusing on the training of paraveterinarians. Related to these foci, they provide advisory services to SPC member countries. The AHP has recently completed several project activities: • The Pacific Regional Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Project (PRIPPP) supported building the capacity of veterinary services in the PICT’s 22 countries and territories for the detection and control of emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza. The project was funded by Australian (AusAID) and New Zealand (NZAID) agencies for international development, and implemented in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) and the FAO. • The Animal Genetic Resources Pilot Project for the South West Pacific Region, funded by FAO, characterized the genetic diversity of local pigs and chicken breeds in Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Solomon, Tonga, and Vanuatu.


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The ACIAR Animal Waste Management project developed technologies for the management of waste from pigs in village production settings. Following on from this project, a Taiwanese funded project was implemented in Fiji to test out the new technologies in village settings.

Currently the AHP is managing one major project, funded by the AusAID Pacific Public Sector Linkages Programme, ‘Establishing a Food Animal Biosecurity Network Project’ (FABN) in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands. The AHP also supports several networks that improve communication and sharing of information in the region. These include PHOVAPS, the South West Pacific Animal Genetics Resources Network (Sprang), the Pacific Veterinary Network (PACVET), and the Pacific Animal Health Laboratory Network (PAHLNet). These networks play a critical role in facilitating communication, promoting sharing of livestock information, increasing collaboration and encouraging sharing of resources. As part of the CCCPIR project, the AHP requested that GIZ support nine activities from October 2011 – September 2011. This consultation reviewed the AHP request for support in terms of technical and programmatic merit. As part of this review, AHP staff members took the decision to develop a five-‐year strategic plan for mainstreaming climate change into the AHP. Given that building resiliency to climate change in the PICT’s livestock sector is a long-‐term development goal that needs to be built on a strong foundation of scientific evidence and tailored to the region’s unique social-‐cultural systems, the purpose of the five-‐year plan is to provide a clear guide to the AHP and its development partners regarding climate change related activities that will be undertaken by the AHP. Development partners will be asked to direct financial and technical support to achieving the AHP five-‐year strategic plan for mainstreaming climate change. The AHP request to GIZ was revised to request financial and technical support for the first year of implementation of the following high priority activities in its strategic plan: • Activity 1.2: In collaboration with SOPAC and the SPC Statistics for Development Division, develop a GIS-based system for climate change risk assessment and resiliency planning for the livestock sector. • Activity 1.3: Support the process of livestock climate disaster planning at village, national and regional levels. • Activity 2.3: Develop and disseminate climate adapted breeds and lines of chickens and pigs. • Activity 2.5: Develop and disseminate climate appropriate livestock housing technologies adapted from current SPC designs. These technologies will be developed and tested in partnership with one or more national agricultural research services (NARS). • Activity 4.1: Establish a program to support member countries in integrating livestock advice into seasonal forecast information production and dissemination.


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Activity 4.3: Implement a program of annual climate change training for AHP and stakeholders on key technical topics. Activity 4.4: Establish program of AHP visits, information sharing and networking with livestock units in other regional organizations, to facilitate transfer of knowledge and experiences related to adapting livestock to climate change.

Detailed concept notes for implementation of each activity, with timeframes and budgets, can be found in section two of the AHP five-year strategic plan for mainstreaming climate change. The AHP would also like support from the GIZ CCCPIR project team to develop a network of donor and research partners dedicated to helping it achieve its five-‐year strategic plan for mainstreaming climate change.

Objectives 3 and 4: Data Management in the LRD

The Information, Communication and Extension (ICE) team organizes information and knowledge management services to the LRD, including the management of databases. It also provides advice and develops materials for extension and community development. The AHP hosts several databases that are key for the support of adapting the livestock sector of PICTs to climate change: • World Animal Health Information Database (WAHID): This is an international database managed by the OIE, available online for 2005 onward at http://web.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=home. The AHP has moved to WAHID from the regionally specific Pacific Animal Health Information System (PAHIS). The user can interact with WAHID using four main portals: Country Information allows one to access information on a country’s reported disease events, animal health situation, veterinary professionals, animal populations, zoonoses, laboratory capacity, vaccine production, vaccination, OIE notification history, disease timelines and disease time series analysis. Disease Information allows one to access information on immediate notifications and follow-‐ups, weekly disease reports, outbreak maps, distribution maps, detailed country disease incidence, sanitary situation, and general disease information. Disease Control Measures allows one to access information about control measures implemented for a specific disease for a specific time period by country or region in table or map form. Country Sanitary Situation Comparison allows one to identify potential trade hazards by inputting the importing and exporting country. Vanuatu, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia and French Polynesia are members of the OIE. As the World Trade Organization (WTO) Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement reference organization


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•

•

•

•

•

for animal health, the standards, guidelines and recommendations of the OIE are recognized for international trade in livestock and livestock products. Thus, countries wishing to engage in the international trade of livestock and livestock products must abide by the guidelines set by the OIE, and report important disease events to the OIE. The SPC ICE team, under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with OIE, assists PICT countries to submit their information to the OIE through the WAHIS online interface. Upon request, ICE will also provide countries with analysis reports on specific livestock trade topics. However, it should be noted that reporting to the OIE by PICT countries is poor. Pacific Islands Pest List Database (PLD): This is a database maintained by ICE that stores information about agricultural, environmental and forestry pests known to exist in the PICTs. With assistance from ICE, each country develops and submits its own PLD using the framework of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). As a sister organization to the OIE, the IPPC is the WTO SPS recognized reference center for the trade in plants and plant products. Data is available for Samoa, Tonga, Niue, French Polynesia, Fiji, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, FSM, Palau and Marshall Islands. For livestock, this would apply to feeds and feedstuffs. The Pacific Regional Trade Statistics Database project: The goal of this database is to provide an online, freely accessible database on import and export information for Cook Islands, Fiji Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. When available, this database should provide information on the trade in livestock and livestock products between these countries, and with external trade partners. Pacific Genetic Resources: One objective of the Animal Genetic Resources Pilot Project was to establish a database accessible to regional actors on local animal genetic resources, as part of an overall regional genetic resources database for plants and animals. This has yet to be developed. Pacific Regional Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan Resources: Available online through the AHP PRIPPP portal (http://www.spc.int/prippp/) are avian influenza national action plans, standard operating procedures, infection control documents and table top exercise outputs. SPC Training Activities Database: All training activities implemented by SPC technical staff are entered into an overall SPC training activities database that tracks process indicators on types of training provided to what stakeholders. This data is available through the SPC.

The Statistics for Development Division of the SPC maintains: • National Censuses • National Agriculture Censuses


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Geo-‐referenced data (SOPAC also provides GIS products on water, energy and disaster management) The Animal Genetic Resources Pilot Project for the South West Pacific Region was a research project designed to measure the genetic diversity of the region’s indigenous livestock. The project protocol and a preliminary report on chicken genetics were given to the consultant by AHP staff. As a pilot project it was small, sampling 150 villages and more than two hundred households in Fiji, Niue, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands. In order to fully understand indigenous livestock diversity in the PICTs, the sampling need to be expanded. The project protocol provided a sampling framework and survey instrument. The survey instrument collected information on the individual animal (breed, age, physical characteristics, production) and the farming system (geo-‐referenced location, type, production, challenges). The protocol called for sampling animals from diversity hotspots, but did not mention the indicators used to identify these hotspots. Although the protocol called for measuring genetic diversity in cattle, chickens, ducks, goats, pigs, sheep and horses, due to limited funding samples were only collected from indigenous pigs and chickens. The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) laboratory in Beijing, China analyzed the samples collected. The preliminary report on chickens provided by ILRI indicates that two breed clusters were identified, with Fiji, Samoa and Tonga local chicken populations in one cluster and Niue, Solomon and Vanuatu local chicken populations in an independent cluster. With the work completed to date there are three primary concerns. First, it is unclear how diversity hotspots were defined or identified. Second, there is no indication that the project generated evidence that the true diversity of chickens and pigs (true hotspots) were sampled. Third, how the diversity measured relates to climate tolerance characteristics in pigs and chickens was not measured. The AHP five-‐year plan for mainstreaming climate change activity 2.1 proposes a research partnership to use data generated by this project to develop a modified population model that predicts geographic areas in the Pacific likely to host indigenous populations of pigs and chickens adapted to the region’s future climate. This model will then be used to develop targeted sampling frameworks for Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia. So as to target the scarce human and financial resources available to the livestock sector, it is recommended that the AHP collaborate with SOPAC to create a livestock and climate change risk mapping and advocacy component of its Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative (PCRAFI). This has been planned for as activity 1.2 in the AHP five-‐year plan for mainstreaming climate change, and has been submitted to the GIZ CCCPIR program for funding consideration. Outside WAHID, access to raw data is open only to national stakeholders for their own country information. To obtain data from the SPC, a stakeholder must work through SPC technical staff to obtain permission from each implicated country. •


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When considering the LRD objectives of improved food and nutritional security, integrated and sustainable agricultural forestry and resource management and development, and improved biosecurity and increased trade in agriculture and forestry products in PICTs, one can see that the majority of SPC livestock data archiving activities are directed at supporting the third objective of increasing trade, including WAHID, PLD, the Pacific Region Trade Statistics Database and the national agricultural censuses. Monitoring impacts on food security and livestock development is only partially supported by the Planned Pacific Genetic Resources database and the national population and agricultural censuses. It should also be noted that there are no regular data analysis products, such as annual reports. This consultation found that the current data management activities do not provide a mechanism for measuring the impact of AHP activities, particularly those targeted towards increasing the resiliency of the PICT livestock sector to climate change. As the AHP engages in climate change related activities, progress and impact should be measured in terms of impact on food security, livestock development and trade. This can be achieved by developing a list of impact indicators for the AHP to track through an annual survey using a standard instrument. It should be kept in mind that the impact of any project activity is very difficult to measure, for two reasons. First, impacts are long-‐term indicators, with demonstrable change usually only evident over years if not decades. Second, attributing a measured impact to one intervention is nearly impossible, given the complexity of the systems in which projects are active. Therefore, three recommendations are made. First, the SPC has a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) specialist based in Noumea, New Caledonia. Measuring the impact of AHP climate change activities can be integrated into the SPC M&E framework currently under development. A list of overall impact indicators for climate change activities can be best developed during a meeting of all AHP staff members. It is recommended that the meeting proceed through the following steps: 1. List the key questions regarding impact of AHP climate change activities on food security, livestock development and trade? 2. List the data needed to answer each key question. 3. Identify the data that the AHP can reliably access on an annual basis through SPC databases. 4. Identify the data that needs to be generated de novo. The AHP team can then work with the SPC M&E specialist to develop a plan for generating this data annually. Second, each AHP climate change project should measure process and outcome indicators. A process indicator is a measure of distribution or action. An example would be number of people trained to build a shelter for backyard chickens that


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reduces heat stress. Given that impact cannot be measured during a typical project’s lifetime, an outcome indicator is a measure of progress in boundary partners towards impact. An example would be would be an endorsement by livestock extension services of a shelter for backyard chickens that reduces heat stress. This type of approach towards measuring progress is referred to as Outcome Mapping. Third, an AHP M&E analysis and annual reporting plan should be developed. In this way the AHP theme will have an annual evaluation of each project activity’s contribution towards achieving its five-‐year plan for mainstreaming climate change, and the progress it has made towards achieving the objectives of its plan. This annual report can be provided to all development partners.

Objective 5: Vanuatu

The overall goal of the CCCPIR program in Vanuatu is to strengthen the adaptive capacities of Ni-‐Vanuatu communities to cope with the adverse effects of climate change. The project aim is to trial climate adaptations identified as urgent in the Vanuatu National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA). The project is meant to provide communities with tried and tested adaptations. The project aim is a challenging and exciting target. The aim assumes that reliable mechanisms to adapt livestock production in Vanuatu are known, and need to be trialed to prove and adjust them for the Vanuatu context. The aim also assumes that trials in one of Vanuatu’s production contexts will be appropriate for other contexts. In broad terms, we do know of mechanisms to adapt livestock to the climate hazards that threaten Vanuatu, including housing, feeding, production and genetic adaptations to manage heat stress, flooding, interspersed unusual high and low rainfall periods, salination of freshwater resources and wind damage from cyclones. Research has been done to understand the mechanisms by which animals cope with heat stress, and to identify breeds and lines more capable of adapting. However, this research has mainly targeted production systems in the developed world. Evidence-‐based options have not been developed for livestock producers in PICTs. Proven options for adapting livestock in Vanuatu’s diversity of social-‐cultural-‐ environmental contexts are not known. Thus, it is necessary to design best-‐bet adaptation options, test them, iteratively improve them based on testing results until effective and appropriate in one context, and then conduct further trials to scale out to a variety of sites. Livestock research and development is resource intensive, as is true for the CCCPIR project’s other two main areas of investment, crops and forestry. Rarely are there enough human or financial resources available to repeat adaptation trials in multiple project countries. Therefore, optimal project design would be to evaluate


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adaptation concepts broadly applicable in the region, and then transfer evidence-‐ based concepts to different countries. Once an adaption is proven effective at the national level, trials can be conducted at the sub-‐national level for scaling-‐up, with scaling-‐out once concepts have been proven and have gained farmers’ attention. For the CCCPIR project as a whole, learning from the Vanuatu trials can provide adaptations that that are resources for other PICTs. The CCCPIR Vanuatu livestock adaptation pilot site is on Pele Island. Adaptation options to be trialed at the site were identified, and the overall site design produced, by the Vanuatu Livestock Department. The pilot site idea was presented to farmers on Pele during a workshop in November 2010, who agreed to host it. The facility was stocked with pigs in April 2011. The project is fully community-‐based, managed by a committee of Pele farmers, employing local workers and utilizing local resources such as building materials and feed as much as possible. The facility has been designed to test adaptations to drought, extreme rainfall and increased temperatures, including flooring and pen design options. Interbreeding of large white, mixed large white/Duroc, local Pele pigs and wild pigs from Santo has commenced. As it is now ready to move into testing climate adaptation options, the project would benefit from developing a clear research design to produce proven options for adapting swine to climate change, including collection of the minimum amount of data necessary to demonstrate the desirability of the adaptations being attempted. To be sustainable and scalable, clear evidence of the impact of each adaptation is necessary. In addition, a minimum set of data to encourage farmer uptake, such as cost/benefit analysis of improved practices for villagers, should be collected. It is suggested that the project is now ready to enter into a research and production phase, and that this phase have three components: 1. Controlled, repeatable tests of promising adaptations to priority hazards. This can most easily be accomplished by conducting one experiment at any given time. a. The pilot site proposal provides a list of 12 potential impacts of climate change on livestock in Vanuatu, and 10 adaptations to be trialed. Both lists should be prioritized to identify the most critical climate change impact to address first. Adaptations that may help swine producers to be more resilient to that impact should be identified and prioritized so that the most promising two or three can be trialed. b. The adaptation to be trialed should be designed to have high impact while relying as much as possible on current practice and available resources. c. Each trial should be designed as a controlled study, so that all variables other than the adaptation being studied are controlled.


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d. Consistently collect the minimum amount of data necessary to prove or disprove the adaptation. e. Collect additional data to analyze the impact and feasibility of each adaptation. f. Publish results in peer-‐reviewed journals accessible to PICT livestock stakeholders. g. Produce short fact sheets for national decision-‐makers so that they can test the adaptation at the national level, and for scaling-‐out to farmers.

For example, proof of concept work already done at Pele has shown that some floor covering (litter) may be better for pigs in terms of comfort and productivity in hot environments, and may provide farmers with valuable fertilizer. The most promising two or three floor coverings can now be tested in a controlled study. All animals in such a trial should be of the same breed, size, sex and age, and they should receive the same quantity of a pre-‐determined balanced feed. The feed should not vary day-‐to day. They should be kept in pens of equal dimensions and construction, and be let into their runs at the same time every day. The runs should have the same documented resources, such as water for cooling and soil for rooting and mineral supplementation. The litter should be changed on the same day and at the same interval in all pens. There should be at least three repetitions of each litter material. Prior to starting, all trial animals should be prophylactically treated for the chronic diseases present on Pele, namely gastrointestinal nematodes, mites and mange. Daily feed intake (exact measure of food provided and left unconsumed by each pig) and weekly live weights will provide a measure of productivity, morning and afternoon vaginal temperatures will provide a measure of heat stress, and weekly physical exams will provide a measure of disease status. Each disease problem should be definitively diagnosed. To provide decision-‐makers and farmers with information on the costs and benefits of each type of floor covering, the cost and source of each material throughout the trial should be recorded, with the amount of time required to manage each animal with its floor covering per day and the cost of disposal. If use of animal waste will be promoted as a benefit of an adaptation, then waste from all floor coverings needs to be collected and treated in the same fashion, with one composter per waste type so that compost production can be measured. The composting method should be same for all three groups, with all labor such as turning for aeration recorded. If sold, sale price per unit should be recorded. If used in a garden, plot size and crops grown should be the same, labor recorded, and crop performance such as productivity and harvest documented.


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An important part of research is peer-‐reviewed publication of trial results so that the evidence-‐based is firmly established and others can repeat and adapt the science. A controlled trial would provide the necessary elements for this. More importantly, it would provide the information decision-‐makers need for evaluating if an adaptation is right for their country, and for extension workers to bring the adaptation to their clients. During the site visit the pilot site committee identified the following priority swine problems: the sun appears too intense for improved pigs with white coloring; water is becoming scarce because wells are drying; when it rains too much pig pens become muddy and the pigs get sick. The need for similar research for poultry adaptation was highlighted. They also prioritized the lack of pasture for cattle during droughts, and the need for high ground grazing for cattle during floods. These climate priorities identified by farmers themselves should also be taken into consideration during pilot site research. 2. Operational research of promising adaptations with farmers to measure impact and feasibility. Once an adaptation has been proven through controlled research, operational research to disseminate the adaptation to Pele farmers can be conducted. This can be done by providing farmers with all the materials necessary for an adaptation, and then measuring uptake and impact. Perhaps more interesting would be to demonstrate the adaptation at the facility or with one key farmer in each village, and then measure interest, uptake and impact for other farmers. Impact metrics should include non-‐ economic measures. Labor requirements, food consumption and social goods such as the availability of key components for community celebrations are also important. Measurements of impacts and benefits should be based on a clearly documented understanding of what incentives motivate a farmer or community to keep pigs and improve production practices. Key feasibility and impact indicators would be rate of adoption, cost of adoption, modifications made by each adopting farmer to the technology advocated, productivity in the village environment, profitability in terms of sales or augmentation of family diet, improvements to the social context, and farmer satisfaction with a technology. 3. Production of best technologies from proof of concept rapid trials. Farmers on Pele are already showing interest in the pig facility and its technologies. Production of technologies for dissemination, such as mixed breed piglets, and production for sale to support the facility, such as growers, can be supported by the facility. As part of production, mixed-‐breeding efforts should be well documented, including number of breedings for a sow to take, litter size, piglet, weaner and grower growth rates and disease susceptibility. Both F1 and F2 crossings should be clearly monitored. Off-‐take should not interfere with controlled experiments. Where animals from controlled experiments are distributed, experimental protocols should clearly indicate


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which animals can be removed and at what stage, so that off-‐take is consistent across groups and does not interfere with trial results. During the site visit, livestock experts identified modifications be made to the design and management of the swine facility. These recommendations are included in appendix 1. The consultant recommends the modifications be made to the design and management of the swine facility. 1. Compost pit design – currently there is a single, small composting pit. Appropriate designs should be researched to ensure the technology performs well, but modified to be feasible for farmers to build and manage. Good compost management technique, including dry to wet matter ratio, aeration, water content, length of composting to reduce disease risk and optimal final product (texture, color, smell) should be demonstrated. Rotating two pits would allow one to be filled as one is maturing. 2. Litter – the type of litter e.g. wood shavings, saw dust, dried leave or grass, dried seaweed, coconut husks must be at least 15 – 20 cm deep when added into the pens. This is for the pigs’ comfort and to prolong cleaning the litter. With this volume, litter can stay on for at least 2 months before being removed into the compost site. 3. Use of swine manure – workers have been instructed to compost manure at the facility for three weeks prior to use as fertilizer. However, further questioning of staff revealed that this is not consistently practiced. Instead, manure is applied directly to vegetable beds, mixed with the soil, and allowed to sit 2-‐3 weeks before crops are planted. Local actors indicated a belief that there are no animal or public health hazards related to pig manure. However, it does appear that zoonotic gastrointestinal nematodes are problematic in swine on Pele. Other diseases, should they be introduced in the future, would be spread by the direct application of untreated swine manure. Therefore, composting should be strictly enforced. 4. Breeding services – Pele swine farmers have access to boars housed at the facilities. Sows are brought to the facility to be serviced. This threatens to spread diseases from village animals to those at the facility, such as sarcoptic mange. Instead, quarantine the sow to be mated in a holding pen outside the facility until proven disease free, and then bring the boar to the quarantined sow rather than introducing the sow to the facility. It is best not to leave breeding animals together for a prolonged period, but only for servicing. The wild animals appear to be aggressive, and leaving breeding animals together is likely increasing stress. 5. Identification – all animals in the facility should be uniquely identified by ear nothing. Different identification systems for those animals enrolled in controlled trials and those being propagated for distribution may be considered. 6. Diseases – Vanuatu appears to be free of many livestock diseases. External (lice and mites) and internal parasites (nematodes) do appear to be problematic in the facility and should be controlled through clean facility


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management and preventive medicine. Care should be taken with pharmaceuticals and the environment, particularly since manure is composted. Most pharmaceuticals are excreted in the urine and feces. Ivermectin, for example, is known to reduce soil nematode content. Antibiotic use should be kept to a minimum, if at all, to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria in animal and human populations. 7. Cleanliness – it appears that the facility is cleaned once a month. Shorter regimens would likely help with external parasite control and reduce skin problems. Identifying frequent cleaning methods that minimize labor requirements would be of significant benefit for smallholder swine producers in the region, as swine stress and disease would be minimized and uptake by families maximized. 8. Water – fresh drinking water should always be available. 9. Feeds and feeding – recommendations were made by the visiting team to improve nutrition and will not be detailed here. Issues to manage include composition (less taro, more cassava), balance (frequent greens and fruits), preparation (cooking, coconut meat instead of halves), variety, and improved nutrition for growers and lactating sows (meat meal). 10. Roof design – the roof is made of corrugated metal in a peaked design. It would be better to use an overhanging peak design, so that the two halves of the roof are separated by approximately 1 foot. This allows venting of heat that gets trapped in the roof. Managers may also consider covering the roof with insulating material such as thatching leaves to reduce temperatures in the facility. 11. Facility design – the design of the facility may not be appropriate for trialing adaptations meant to be implemented at village level. For example, the design moves animals through different areas of the facility (mating pens, farrowing pens, growing pens, selling pens), rather than a single shelter for the animal’s entire period on farm. While in Vanuatu three other activities were undertaken. Livestock and Climate Change Meeting. A one-‐day meeting was held for 17 participants from the Vanuatu Meteorological Livestock and Agricultural Services, and an NGO. During the meeting a representative of the Meteorological Service gave a presentation on climate change. Participants were then broken into small groups to list the impact that different climate hazards would have on beef ranching, smallholder beef, backyard poultry and backyard swine. The groups then listed ways the sectors could be adapted to minimize these impacts. A presentation was then given on seasonal climate forecasting in Vanuatu, including the forecast for October – November 2011 in Vanuatu, and participants were asked to brainstorm recommendations that could be made to livestock keepers on how to use the forecast information.


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Evaluation of the National Provident Fund Ranch. A group of participants from the above workshop visited a ranch newly purchased by the National Provident Fund. The objective of the ranch is to earn income for the fund, while demonstrating best livestock production practices. The group made recommendations to the ranch manager, primarily focused on adapting the ranch to climate change. The consultant also recommended that the ranch manager be provided with information about Key Line Design, and Holistic Management (Savory & Butterfield, 1999). Seasonal forecast dissemination. There is a large body of evidence regarding the use of natural indicators to understand weather and climate by smallholder farmers, and the use of these traditional indicators in agricultural decision-‐making (Orlove, Carla Roncoli, Kabugo, & Majugu, 2009). As climate variability increases, farmers are seeking additional information to supplement their traditional understanding of climate (C Roncoli, K Ingram, & P. Kirshen, 2002). Seasonal climate forecasts provide 3-‐month rainfall outlooks, are increasingly being promoted as a tool farmers can use to improve their decision-‐making. Research has been done in Africa on the dissemination of seasonal forecasts to farmers, measuring understanding of the scientific forecast and use in management of crops and livestock (Patt, Suarez, & Gwata, 2005) (Carla Roncoli, Keith Ingram, Jost, & Paul Kirshen, 2003). Results have indicated that understanding and use are improved when participatory dissemination methods are used, particularly participatory village workshops (Carla Roncoli et al., 2008)(Patt et al., 2005). Combining traditional and scientific climate knowledge is also important for uptake, as is involving traditional leaders and information dissemination methods. The Vanuatu Meteorological Service currently produces a one-‐page seasonal forecast technical note on a monthly basis. This note does not contain recommendations for farmers based on the forecast. The meteorological service also arranges a weekly one-‐hour talkback session on national radio, which may bring together a panel of experts to advise farmers on how to use the forecast. A multi-‐disciplinary team from the meteorological service, livestock service and agricultural service visited Pele on 8 September 2011 to disseminate the October – December seasonal climate forecast to farmers. A participatory workshop with approximately 50 village men and women of all age groups and 10 national experts was held. The visiting team was introduced and welcomed by the village speaker. Participants were then broken into four working groups (men, women, young men, young women) and asked to discuss and list the traditional indicators they use to understand their weather and climate. After presentation of traditional indicators by each group, the meteorological service presented the forecast of normal to above normal rains for October-‐December. It was explained that there was a very high confidence level associated with the forecast. Forecast confidence was demonstrated with four cut nut (Barringtonia procera) fruits in a hat representing the forecast. Three fruits were purple, representing very high confidence, one was


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green, representing the chance that even though confidence was very high something other than the forecast may happen, such as a drought. Different participants were then asked to draw a fruit to represent probability. Extension experts from the agricultural and livestock services then presented different ways farmers could use the forecast information. After the workshop the visiting team discussed their experience. All indicated being favourably impressed by the participatory approach and emphasis on traditional knowledge as a foundation for explaining scientific information. Trade offs between cost and numbers of farmers were discussed between radio and village workshops. To measure impact, a return visit in three months to interview farmers was proposed. This experience served as the basis of activity 4.1 in the AHP 5-‐year plan for mainstreaming climate change.

Conclusions Climate change is a global issue whose impacts are already being felt by farmers around the world. We must begin to adapt now, if we are to have resilient agricultural systems in the future. Because it is a transboundary challenge with unique regional implications, building the capacity of technical groups in regional organizations such as the SPC to advise member states is a priority. Of the three GIZ CCCPIR foci (livestock, agriculture and forestry), livestock may the most challenging, for many reasons. Among these, the relative lack of financial and human resources in the livestock sector relative to the other two sectors may be the greatest challenge. Thus the opportunity that the CCCPIR project has provided to the AHP to build its climate change knowledge and capacity, and develop a strong strategic plan for its first five years of mainstreaming climate change into its work, has been greatly important. The AHP has become aware of climate change and its potential impact in PICTs. The theme now has a clear vision of the important role it can play in helping the PICT livestock sector to adapt to climate change and become more resilient to its impacts. This alone may be one of the most important outcomes of the CCCPIR program in 2011. Most importantly, the CCCPIR program has helped the AHP to develop a plan for mainstreaming climate change activities into is work for the next five years. This plan includes activities to further build the capacity of the AHP team to understand the impacts of climate change on the livestock sector, to advise member countries on best-‐practice adaptation options, and to support the rapid development of evidence-‐based adaptation technologies. Continued technical and financial support from the CCCPIR will be critical to the successful achievement of this five-‐year plan. The following documents are outputs of this consultation:


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6. Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region Project: Livestock Production and Climate Change, consultancy report by Christine Jost 7. Livestock and Climate Change Workshop Report, Nabua, Suva, 22-‐25 August 2011 8. Climate change and livestock fact sheets: a. Climate Change and Livestock in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (a fact sheet for decision-‐makers) b. Climate Change Adaptation for Smallholder Cattle Farmers c. Climate Change Adaptation for Smallholder Chicken Farmers d. Climate Change Adaptation for Smallholder Pig Farmers e. Climate Change Adaptation for Smallholder Goat and Sheep Farmers f. Climate Change Adaptation for Small Holder Honey Bees Farmers 9. AHP 5-‐year Strategic Plan for Mainstreaming Climate Change, including Gantt diagram of timeframe 10. Mainstreaming Climate Change in the Work of the AHP: Request for Support from the GIZ CCCPIR Program


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Appendix 1: Recommendations from Expert Livestock Team for Improvements in Pele Island Pig Facility Feeding and Nutrition Juvenile and adult pigs require different feed formulations and different feed quantities. -‐ Meat meal should only be given to growing pigs -‐ Meat meal should be boiled (to enable dissolution), not mixed into cold food -‐ Vitamins and nutrients should be added to a base food including but not limited to greens, leaves, shoots, bush vines, cassava tops, sweet potato vines, fruits (according to season) -‐ Pigs should be fed a diversified diet -‐ Male adult pigs should not be fed large quantities or fatty foods, as this will prevent mating success. Male pigs should be lean and tall. -‐ Small pigs should be fed for fast growth -‐ Pregnant pigs should be fed to early development -‐ Adult pigs should be fed for maintenance only -‐ Copra oil (from green copra) will stimulate the taste of Taro when boiled together -‐ Coconut meat should be removed from the shell, to prevent mouth and foot damage by sharp shells -‐ Coconut meat should be purchased from the surrounding community pre shelled and for a price equivalent to around 200 vatu per 25KG bag -‐ Pigs may develop an allergic reaction to being fed taro stems constantly. They require a mixed diet. Taro stems should be well boiled. -‐ The base meal for the pigs on Pele should be manioc, not taro stem. -‐ Exact quantities and types of food should be recorded for each pig. Integrated Farming -‐ Fruit trees should be planted around the pilot site in order to provide a steady supply of nutrient rich fruit (use as a fruit and nut diversity orchard) -‐ High yielding feed crops should be planted to feed pigs (3 months kumala and manioc) and fertilized with manure. -‐ Crops should be planted throughout the year so that they can be harvested regularly for pig feeding -‐ Legumes can be planted around the pig facility to provide a ready source of green leaves -‐ Water should be available in pens at all times.


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-‐

A more cost effective water supply system using empty 200L drum may be more locally appropriate for the facility.

Manure -‐ Manure cannot be directly applied to vegetable crops, as this may facilitate human-‐pig parasite infection -‐ Manure should be composted, by placing in an above ground well aerated box, layered and mixed with 75% finely green leaves and turned regularly. The composting process should take more than 4 weeks (enough time to break the parasite transmission cycle). -‐ The composting process requires aerobic fermentation -‐ Manure should not be placed in a hole as this inhibits aeration and may lead to water logging and a stop to the fermentation process. Enclosure -‐ Wire and timber fencing may be best for cooling -‐ The roof of the pig facility should be opened to allow heat transfer -‐ The wood shavings used as flooring material should be quite thick for maximum absorption. -‐ Coconut husks fibers may be used in place of wood shavings and is locally available. Breeding and Quarantine -‐ Female pigs (sows) should be fully quarantined before being brought into the pig facility. -‐ Pigs should be deloused, as this prevents highest productivity -‐ Incoming pigs should be assessed for diarrhea and parasites. -‐ Breeding males should be removed from female contact as soon as a breeding event has occurred (to prevent excessive reproduction attempts). Males and females should be kept in separate pens -‐ Record sheets should record all breeding and mating activity.


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