Report on mission travel to Vu and Middle Bush site for the EU-ARD project (15
June - 25 June 2014)
1. Name:
2. Itinerary :
3. Purpose
4. People met/
visits
5. Major events
Dominik Ruffeis
Departed Aiyura on 05 June; arrived in Honiara on 06 June; Proceed to
Port Vila (Vu) on June 15 and departed on June 23 and travelled via
Brisbane, POM and Lae to Aiyura. All travel costs covered by the EUARD project.
1. Meeting with DARD project team
2. Visit Siviri to identify suitable location for automatic rain gauge
3. Meeting with representatives of Meteorology VMGD
4. Field visit to Middle Bush with ADRA country director and Vu
project sub-coordinator to identify options for collaboration at
Middle Bush
5. Official hand-over of automatic rain gauges to VMGD
1. Mr. Philip Malsale (VMGD)
2. Mr. Livo Mele (DARD)
3. Dr. Roger Malapa
4. Ms. Lisa Hardwick (Meteo Department)
5. Mr. Mark le Roux (ARDA country director)
6. Mr. Antoine Ravo (Vu EU-ARD country sub-coordinator)
7. Mr. Peter Iesul (DARD)
8. Lead farmers and village chiefs of Middle Bush communities
9. Mr. Joseph Iepen – EU ARD Project officer on Middle Bush Tanna
10. Mr. Gibson David – Acting Director, Meteo Department
11. Mr. John Katu – Supervisor, ADRA project, Laukaru community
12. Mr. Samuel Mangao – ADRA project officer, Laukaru community,
Middle Bush
13. Mrs. Maxine Finlay – Nasituan volunteer consultation, Lowaiau,
Middle Bush
14. Mr. Andrew Finlay – Nasituan volunteer
15. Mr. Jeffery Lafa – Nasituan Director
16. Mr. Tom Kaso – Principal, Napil Training center (7108426)
1. Meeting at DARD (Roger, Antoine, Peter, Dominik)
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss status of activities in all
three selected sites, the installation and operation of the two
automatic rain gauges and options for collaboration with ADRA at
Middle Bush.
It was agreed that it would be best to hand-over the automatic rain
gauges to VMGD for them to install and operate the rain gauges.
Especially to guarantee a frictionless integration of the rain gauges in
VMGD measuring network. The sharing of data between both
departments will be reflected in the already existing MoU, to
guarantee easy and non bureaucratic access to data for all three
project sites.
During the discussion on potential activities at middle Bush, a
suggestion was made that farmers are interested to grow vegetable for
consumption, local and regional markets for additional income
generation. Some farmers are already engaged in this activity but
solely depend on rainfall. In order to boost vegetable production and
to guarantee continuous production throughout the dry season,
irrigation is inevitable and a prerequisite. It was agreed to discuss this
option with local farmers and with ADRA on site.
In case of Siviri, collaboration with water resource department to
install RWH scheme to supplement existing water supply system, to
utilize portions of water for irrigation, can be considered. DARD will
follow-up on this to explore further options.
It was agreed that engagement of Helmut Schabschneider is vital for
successful implementation of planned activities. All options and
possibilities should be considered to ensure his further involvement in
this project. Helmut is currently developing a work plan, which will
be discussed in detail with DARD and Dr. Workneh including terms
and conditions of his work.
2. Visit to Siviri case study site to identify suitable location for
automatic rain gauge
VMGD will be responsible for installation and operation of the rain
gauge. The rain gauge will be installed at the same location of an
already existing manual rain gauge.
3. Meeting with representatives of VMGD
Philip Malsale was informed during the meeting about the
procurement of 2 automatic rain gauges, to be set up at Siviri and
Malauf. VMGD will assist the project to install the rain gauges
properly. The access to data was again discussed and VMGD ensured
non bureaucratic access to data for all three project sites. This will be
reflected in the already existing MoU. Philip Malsale informed us that
an automatic rain gauge was installed at Middle Bush last year.
Therefore it was decided to stick to the initial plan to install the rain
gauges at Siviri and Malafau.
4. Field visit to Middle Bush with ADRA country director to
discuss options for collaboration at Middle Bush:
The main purpose of this visit and field trip was to inspect already
existing and planned water supply structures at Middle Bush and find
options how to integrate project activities into ADRAs work. This
filed visit was documented with GPS readings taken at various
locations. During an initial discussion with Mr. Joseph Iepen, NARI
EU-ARD Project field officer at Middle Bush and Loukaru
community members John Katu common understanding was reached
that vegetable production is an activity farmers are engaged with and
highly interested in. They suggested two water sources which could be
further developed and water conveyed to areas of vegetable
production, to be utilized for irrigation.
NAPIL agricultural school was visited. The training center trains 27
young farmers. Napil Training Center can be used as a base to install
a pilot irrigation system and use this for training purposes. This would
also ensure wide distribution and dissemination of knowledge on
irrigation in the wider community and on Tanna.
As a result of this file visit to potential options to introduce irrigation
at Middle Bush were identified.
1. Development of new water source
2. Upgrade of ADRA system and use portions of the water for
irrigation
Option 2 would have the advantage of supplying water to a vast
majority of community members and enable them to venture into
commercial vegetable farming. However ADRAs engineers will have
to first verify whether this is a feasible option.
5.
6.
7.
Followup actions
required
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
An ADRA engineer will visits Middle Bush in August. Based on the
recommendations a final decision can be made.
Consultation with village chiefs and key farmers
Summary of the discussion was taken from Antoine Ravos report:
“The purpose of the meeting was to get feedback and views from the
communities/farmers in respect to water resources and agriculture management
during periods of extreme rainfall and drought, and determine how best the EU
ARD project could address their grievances. Detailed discussions were held about
understanding how farmers can bring water to irrigate their crops and also
knowing how they could drain excessive water from their gardens. Responses from
farmers highlighted some possible methods of getting water to their crops including
the use of water pipes, water tap and watering containers, and perhaps used of
reserve water collected from water tanks (sponsored by the ADRA project).
However, the project team emphasized that possible options are: 1) The EU
ARD project will assist farmers by using water collected via the ADRA project
given there is adequate water required for agricultural purposes; 2) The EU
ARD project will use existing water sources to get water into the gardens; and 3)
The EU ARD project will build rain water catchment facilities in the gardens for
irrigation purposes. It was recommended that firstly the project will set up a model
farm (irrigation) at the Napil Training centre.”
During the meeting explanation on potential irrigation technologies
were given.
Official hand-over of automatic rain gauges to VMGD
on Monday 23rd June 2014 in presents of director of DARD Livo
Mele and acting director of VMGD, Mr Gibson David. Both
acknowledged the support from NARI – EU ARD project and
emphasized that both departments will collaboratively work together
to share information and convey important climatic information to
farmers. The rain gauge were handed over to acting director of
VMGD by Dr. Dominik, team leader for soil and water component
on behalf of NARI.
Feasibility study conducted by ADRA engineer - ADRA
Make final decision based on the recommendations - Dominik
Plan logistics of training and set-up of pilot irrigation system at
NAPIL – Dominik, DARD
Involve crops team and Dr. Roger for selection of vegetable crops
Conduct training at NAPIL – Dominik, DARD
Select model farmers and set-up irrigation systems - DARD
Installation of 2 automatic rain gauges at Siviri and Malafau - VMGD