©FAO Palau

INTEGRATED FRUIT TREES PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT

Ap r i l 2020

SDGs:

Countries: Palau

Project Codes: TCP/PLW/3602

FAO Contribution: USD 250 000

Duration: 25 November 2016 – 24 November 2019

Contact Info: FAO Representation in Palau

[email protected]
INTEGRATED FRUIT TREES PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT TCP/PLW/3602

Implementing Partners BACKGROUND

Bureau of Agriculture (BOA) of the Ministry of Natural
Agriculture has unexploited potential in Palau in terms
Resources, Environment and Tourism (MNRET).
of long-term economic self-sufficiency and improved
Beneficiaries health through better nutrition and diet. Currently, the
Farmers and households with available land and interest population depends heavily on imported foodstuffs and
in growing fruit trees in their backyard garden. Secondary local food production is very limited. This provides an
beneficiaries include schools, women groups, opportunity to explore import substitution for fruits that
communities and consumers. can be produced locally. However, there has been a
significant decline in local fruit production, caused by
Country Programming Framework
old fruit varieties and rootstocks, obsolete cultural
CPF Priority Area A: Import substitution and strengthened practices, lack of appropriate fruit production and
linkage with the growing tourism market. management practices, and prevalent pest damage from
Outcome 2: Increased production and productivity of widespread endemic infestation of oriental fruit fly. In
farming systems (including aquaculture). response to this decline, the Government requested FAO
Output 2.2: Strengthened capacity of farming community assistance to tackle the most urgent technical constraints
for Integrated Pest Management (IPM). to increasing local fruit production in order to satisfy local
Output 2.3: Enhanced capability in farming community demand as a means of improving food and nutrition
for tropical fruit production. security.
The aim of the project was to provide the technical
assistance and support needed to strengthen the capacity
of BOA, relevant stakeholders and farmers to enhance
food security and improve the health and diet of the
population through the revitalization of the fruit industry
in Palau. The immediate objectives of the project were
to select local fruit varieties and import improved fruit
tree species and varieties for replanting, provide
appropriate training to BOA staff and farmers, and
©FAO Palau
demonstrate improved technologies for fruit production
and management, and the use of IPM.

IMPACT
At the end of the project, the full potential of the project
had yet to be seen as the planted fruit trees, with the
exception of pineapple, had not reached maturing stage.
It is expected that within 12 months most fruit trees will
be mature and ready for harvest. BOA will continue
to provide support and training, and monitor the growth
of the fruit trees to ensure that maximum benefit is
achieved.

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INTEGRATED FRUIT TREES PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT TCP/PLW/3602

ACHIEVEMENT OF RESULTS SUSTAINABILITY

The project strengthened the capacity of BOA research 1. Capacity development
and extension services to promote and support tropical The government plans to integrate the project results
fruit production by upgrading the main nursery at BOA for by assimilating them into the following broader pipeline
the propagation of all planting materials, and by policies: Achieving Resilient Agriculture and Aquaculture:
completing the establishment of two demonstration sites A national policy for strengthening food security in Palau
for training and demonstration purposes for farmers and as a priority climate change adaptation measure, the
outreach programmes. The project also developed Palau Policy for Climate and Disaster Resilient Low
training and extension materials for use by farmers and Carbon Development, and the draft Republic of Palau
BOA staff. A total of 300 farmers benefited from activities Non-communicable Disease Prevention and Control
carried out to support and strengthen fruit tree Strategic Plan of Action 2015-2020. BOA has been tasked
production. Over 10 000 planting materials were raised to ensure that project work is in line with these policies.
and distributed to households and schools to support and Good partnerships have been established between BOA,
strengthen the capacity of farmers in establishing tropical Palau Community College (PCC), farmers, schools and
fruit tree farms. Six farm pilot demonstration sites were the farming communities in which pilot demonstrations
established and tools and supplies provided to each site, were established and farmer field schools held. Finally,
as well as a selection of imported fruit varieties. Training BOA has endorsed follow-up actions to ensure that
in fruit tree production, management, marketing and IPM continued support is provided to the project beneficiaries.
was conducted and farmers’ field days were organized to
2. Gender equality
highlight project activities and benefits. Towards the end
Both women and men participated in consultations
of the project, additional imported fruit varieties were
and the design of the project, as well as in the project
procured in response to the increased demand and
inception workshop. Women, men and young people
interest shown by local farmers involved in tropical fruit
are all involved in fruit production, marketing and
tree production.
consumption, and will benefit from the project.
IMPLEMENTATION OF WORK PLAN 3. Environmental sustainability
Project implementation was constrained by delays in The activities of the project had no negative impacts
the international procurement of imported planting on the environment.
materials. Despite this, the key outputs were achieved as
4. Human Rights-based Approach (HRBA) – in particular
planned and within budget.
Right to Food and Decent Work
Among the risks envisaged in the Project Document were
the following: a lack of capacity among BOA and Men, woman and students were all targeted during
stakeholders, a lack of coordination among stakeholders, the implementation of project activities.
natural disasters and severe weather conditions, 5. Technological sustainability
unqualified and unmotivated staff and farmers,
The technology introduced to sustain and increase
procurement challenges and the decimation of fruits by
the production of fruit trees has improved and
fruit flies. These ricks either did not materialize or were
strengthened the skills of farmers in fruit tree production.
successfully managed by the project.
BOA staff, farmers and students have increased their
FOLLOW-UP FOR GOVERNMENT ATTENTION capacity to be self-sustainable through the technical
knowledge and skills acquired. Stakeholders’ capacity
As there was a delay in the procurement of imported
has also been improved through their participation in
fruit trees, the full potential of the project will only be
project activities and hands-on training in all aspects of
realized when the trees have matured and borne fruit.
fruit tree production.
BOA should continue to monitor the progress of the pilot
sites and provide training and support to all farmers who 6. Economic sustainability
received planting materials from the project and are part Additional resources need to be allocated and mobilized.
of tropical fruit tree production in Palau. The products and services developed by the project are
expected to be highly affordable in terms of income
generation and increased production.

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DOCUMENTS AND OUTREACH PRODUCTS

 Back-to-office report. Inception mission,
November-December 2016. Viliami Fakava. 10 pp.
 Palau inception and first mission report. B. Paxton.
December 2016. 13 pp.
 Palau second mission report. B. Paxton.
November 2017. 11 pp
 Management booklet for demonstration plots.
B. Paxton. November 2017. 26 pp.
 Palau third mission report. B. Paxton. December 2018.
30 pp. ©FAO Palau

 Plant propagation training booklet. B. Paxton.

December 2018. 10 pp.
 Palau fourth mission report. B. Paxton. May 2019.
62 pp.
 Fruit fly management. End of assignment report.
K. Englberger. June 2019. 22 pp.
 Technical fact sheets for import fruit trees for Palau.
B. Paxton. June 2019. 48 pp.
 Advisory leaflet on fruit fly management.
K. Englberger. June 2019. 2 pp.
 Fruit fly fact sheet. K. Englberger. June 2019. 4 pp.
 Back-to-office report. Final backstopping mission, ©FAO Palau
November-December 2019. Tevita Keresoma. 10 pp.

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ACHIEVEMENT OF RESULTS - LOGICAL FRAMEWORK

Expected
Enhanced food security and sustainable livelihoods for the people of Palau
Impact

Increased production and consumption of tropical fruits in Palau

1. Volume of fruits produced in selected sites in Babeldaob and Koror.

Indicator 2. Number of households with new fruit trees planted in Babeldaob and Koror.
3. Numbers of new fruit trees planted in Babeldaob and Koror.
1. 0
Baseline 2. 0
3. 0
1. 400-700 kg of each fruit produced in newly established pilot demonstration fruit tree farms
Outcome by end of project.
End Target
2. 300 households.
3. 10 000 trees planted.
1. 10 900 fruit trees were planted in newly established farms and demonstration sites for
350 farmers. Owing to the delay in procurement of imported fruit trees, the first harvest is
Comments
expected in early 2021.
and follow-up
2. 350 households.
action to be
3. Over 10 000 planting materials were distributed to farmers during the course of the project.
taken
An additional 900 planting materials were procured as a result of increased demand by
farmers. In total 10 900 planting materials were distributed and planted by farmers.

Capacity of BOA research and extension services to promote and support tropical fruit production strengthened

Indicators Target Achieved

– Two nurseries established.
– Nurseries established.
Output 1 – Two on-station demonstration sites
– On-station demonstration sites established.
established.
– Training provided.
– 170 participants trained. Yes
– Training, promotion and extension materials
– Manuals and fact sheets on horticultural
developed.
practices and IPM developed.
– Outreach support activities conducted.
– Outreach support activities conducted.
Baseline
The project strengthened the capacity of BOA research and extension services to promote and support tropical
fruit production by upgrading the main nursery at BOA for propagation of all planting materials, and completing
Comments
the set-up of two demonstration sites for training and demonstration purposes for farmers and outreach
programmes. The project also developed training and extension materials for use by farmers and BOA staff.
Establish two nurseries
Achieved Yes
It was planned to upgrade two nurseries (BOA nursery and PCC nursery). However, following
field visit and assessments only the former needed upgrading.
The BOA nursery was set up for the initial potting and establishment of the imported plant
material. The nursery was upgraded to hold and propagate all imported and local plant stock
and to be used for training in plant propagation and nursery procedures. An outside nursery was
Activity 1.1
built to harden planting materials. Propagation tools, and nursery and construction materials
Comments
were provided to upgrade the BOA nursery. The PCC nursery required no improvements.
The project imported fruit trees, mango, star apple, passionfruit, sapodilla, longan, wax apple,
and avocado; these were raised in the main nursery. The trees were planted on five pilot sites
and one demonstration site at BOA. Towards the end of the project, additional imported fruit
trees were purchased and raised in the nurseries. These included: sugar apple, mangosteen,
rambutan, santol, abiu, lanzones, soursop and lychee.

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INTEGRATED FRUIT TREES PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT TCP/PLW/3602

Establish two on-station demonstration sites

Achieved Yes
The BOA demonstration plot was the main site at which all imported fruit tree selections were
initially planted. Field days were held at this location to provide training in orchard design and all
aspects of farm management for the various selected cultivars.
Activity 1.2 The PCC site included a smaller selection of imported plant stock and allowed PCC students to
Comments gain field experience from the initial site layout to planting and farm management.
The demonstration plots were provided with agricultural tools and planting equipment and
supplies. These included wheelbarrows, grafting tools, hoses, hand weeders, trowels, cutters,
sprayers, weed killer, Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed, caterpillar killers, spray oil, insecticides, fungicides,
insecticide soaps, tree trunk coating and root feeders.
Train trainers
Achieved Yes
Training in integrated fruit tree production and management, and post-harvest technologies and
management was conducted by the international consultant on fruit production and marketing
in December 2018, as follows:
– Training of project team and technical staff from BOA, PCC and lead farmers on nursery
management and establishment of demonstration sites.
– Training of project team and farmers in plant identification, selection of mother trees, seed
collection, propagation and general nursery management processes.
– Training for farmers and youth in planting, caring, pest management, pruning and field
management of the various fruit and nut trees.
– Training workshop for BOA staff, PCC and high school students in nursery propagation and
establishment of pilot demonstration sites. Areas covered during the training included:
potting mix, watering, fertilizing (time release Osmocote), pest control and plant
propagation.
Activity 1.3
Production data collection was covered during training. In total, 60 participants were trained.
Comments
Training in IPM was undertaken by the international consultant on IPM in June 2019, as follows:
– Four training workshops on fruit fly management. The first training, attended by farmers and
biosecurity officers, included a PowerPoint presentation on fruit fly in general, fruit fly
management and other pests attacking fruit trees. As a practical demonstration, participants
were shown how to make a fruit fly trap from a plastic bottle and how to use fruit fly bait
and traps. Participants were also shown examples of poor sanitation practices and fruit fly
specimens (oriental fruit flies) collected from a trap. All participants received two fruit fly
lure blocks (methyl eugenol) in order to practise how to catch fruit flies at home.
– The second training workshop was attended by farmers and students from the college. The
topics and practice were the same as in the first training.
– The third and fourth training workshops were organized together with the fruit production
and marketing consultant and dealt with fruit flies in general, fruit fly management and
other pests attacking fruit trees.
In total, 110 farmers were trained by the IPM consultant.

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INTEGRATED FRUIT TREES PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT TCP/PLW/3602

Develop training, promotion and extension materials

Achieved Yes
Manuals and fact sheets on horticultural practices and IPM were developed and distributed.
These included:
– A technical manual outlining management from planting to harvesting and marketing of
each imported cultivar - abiu, avocado, carambola, dragon fruit, mango, longan, Malay apple
(wax jambo), passion fruit, pineapple, rambutan and sapodilla. The manual was provided to
BOA.
– Farm management booklets for each demonstration plot. The booklets outlined a site plan
and layout of fruit trees to be planted. It also included management sheets for each fruit
variety for a 12-month period. The booklets were provided to individuals responsible for the
Activity 1.4 demonstration plots and to BOA.
Comments – Plant propagation manual/booklet for training purposes was provided to BOA.
– A four-page fruit fly fact sheet providing scientific information on fruit fly, including
photographs of the three species and host plants, distribution in the Pacific, biology and
spread, and the damage and losses caused by fruit fly infestation. It also covers methods of
control - sanitation, trapping, bagging, bait spray and biosecurity. A total of 1 100 copies was
printed. The fact sheets were distributed to farmers during training. The remaining copies
are with BOA.
– A two-page advisory leaflet on fruit fly management, handed out during training events and
workshops. The main part of the leaflet covers the various control/management practices,
e.g. sanitation, bagging of fruits, early harvest, trapping and protein bait spray. In total, 200
copies were printed, of which 100 were given out and 100 are at BOA.
Organize outreach support activities
Achieved Yes
Five missions were completed during project implementation - four by the fruit production and
marketing consultant and one by the IPM consultant. During these missions, outreach support
activities were carried out, as follows:
– Conducting farmers field days.
– Conducting awareness campaigns on the local radio and in the newspaper.
Activity 1.5
– Training sessions for students (held at BOA).
Comments
– Conducting planting demonstration.
– Facilitating outreach activities in schools on the importance of growing and consuming local
fruits.
BOA, the Farmers Association and PCC will use FAO World Food Day, national events on tree
planting and school events for outreach activities to further enhance public awareness on the
production of fruit trees in Palau.

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INTEGRATED FRUIT TREES PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT TCP/PLW/3602

Capacity of farmers in tropical fruit trees production strengthened

Indicators Target Achieved

Output 2
– Pilot demonstration sites established. – Six pilot demonstration sites established.
– Farmers trained. – 185 households trained. Yes
– Farmers’ field days organized. – Three farmers’ field days organized.
Baseline 0
A total of 300 farmers benefited from activities carried out to support and strengthen fruit tree production. The
project reached the target of 300 households who received fruit trees to establish their own farm plots.
More than 10 000 planting materials were raised and distributed to households and schools to support and
strengthen the capacity of farmers in establishing tropical fruit tree farms. These included avocado, dragon fruit,
mango, passion fruit, pineapple, rambutan, abiu, longan and sapodilla.
Comments
At the end of the project, the full potential of the project had yet to be seen as the planted fruit trees had not
reached maturing stage because of the delay in the procurement of imported fruit trees. It is expected that
within 12 months most fruit trees will be mature and ready for harvest. Pineapple is already maturing. BOA will
continue to provide support, training and monitor growth of the fruit trees to ensure that maximum benefit can
be achieved.
Establish six on-farm pilot demonstration sites
Achieved Yes
Two farm pilot demonstration sites in Koror and four in Babeldaob were established. Tools and
supplies were provided to each site. These included wheelbarrows, grafting tools, hoses, hand
weeders, trowels, cutters and sprayers.
A selection of imported fruit varieties, including mango, star apple, passionfruit, sapodilla,
longan, wax apple and avocado, was provided to each site. Training in fruit tree production,
Activity 2.1 management, marketing and IPM was provided by the project consultants.
Comments Additional imported fruit varieties (sugar apple, mangosteen, rambutan, santol, abiu, lanzones,
soursop and lychee) were procured towards the end of the project in response to the increased
demand and interest shown by local farmers involved in tropical fruit tree production.
As there was a delay in the procurement of imported fruit trees, the full potential of the project
will only be realized when the trees have matured and borne fruit. BOA will continue to monitor
the progress of the pilot sites and provide training and support to all farmers who received
planting materials from the project and are part of tropical fruit tree production in Palau.
Training of farmers
Achieved Yes
Training was conducted by the international consultant on fruit production and marketing in
December 2018 and June 2019, as follows:
– Integrated fruit trees production and management.
– Post-harvest technologies and management.
The training was conducted for households and lead farmers from the farm demonstration sites.
The key topics covered fruit tree selection, orchard layout, windbreaks, site preparation,
planting, irrigation, fertilizing, orchard management, mulching and weed control, mowing, plant
Activity 2.2
propagation, nursery management, planting and tree management, integrated pest control,
Comments
pruning, pollination, use of fruit inducing hormones, water management, harvest techniques
and post-harvest handling, marketing and packaging.
The training included visits to a number of households and farmers to advise on any fruit grown
and farm management problems experienced on individual farm plots. Topics covered pruning,
fertilizer programmes, pest management, weed control measures, best utilization of their plots
and integration of the new fruits. In total, 185 households were trained.
The international consultant on IPM also conducted training in IPM for farmers during his fourth
workshop, as indicated under Output 1, Activity 1.3.
Organize farmers’ field days
Achieved Yes
Farmers’ field days were conducted during the second, third and final missions by the
international consultant on fruit production and marketing at the BOA demonstration site. The
Activity 2.3 farmers’ field days allowed participating farmers to view and take part in an open day workshop
Comments where project activities and benefits were highlighted.
The final farmers’ field day was conducted at the BOA demonstration site. This was well
attended by farmers, students and general public. During the field days fruit tree plants were
distributed to those interested in growing them.

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Outreach, Marketing and Reporting Unit (PSRR)
Business Development and Resource Mobilization Division (PSR)

For more information please contact: [email protected]