The following text appeared in the Solomon Star newspaper on13 September, 2007...

By Joy A Rikimae

THE visiting Vanuatu government delegation yesterday visited Kastom 
Gaden and made a donation to help the organisation’s daily activities.

Led by Vanuatu’s Minister of Agriculture, Quarantine, Forestry and 
Fisheries Donna Brownie, the delegation is in Solomon Islands on a 
familiarisation visit.

Mr Brownie said their visit to Kastom Gaden was to learn new things 
and see the variety of plants and crops Solomon Islands have.

Mr Brownie’s adviser Yoan Mariasua said Vanuatu had been using 
chemicals in its subsistence and commercial farming of vegetables and 
fruits as well as on animals.

However, he said now the country is trying to promote organic farming 
because it is cheaper for people in rural areas.

He said what the Kastom Gaden is doing is a good example of what 
Vanuatu and other Pacific island countries should do.

Other members of the five-men delegation said Solomon Islands has a 
lot of different varieties of plants, vegetables and fruits in the 
local market than in Vanuatu.

Kastom Gaden representative Claudie Watoto said the association’s 
effort is aimed at promoting organic farming as well as promoting 
networking - domestically and regionally.

“We also try to preserve and distribute locally, the old and new 
varieties of plants, root crops, vegetable and fruit trees that 
Solomon Islands have,” Ms Watoto said.

She said the association’s network is mainly with people in rural areas.
In the region, she said the network was through the Melanesian 
Farmers First Network based in Vanuatu.

Melanesian Farmers First Network was formed to help Pacific island 
countries exchange expert advice and help each other in farming.

Mr Brownie said his delegation had really learnt a lot from its visit 
yesterday.

In appreciation to the effort of Kastom Gaden, the delegation gave US
$100 (SB$800) and SB$100.

The Vanuatu delegation will be visiting Solomon Islands for a week."

..................................

Kastom Gaden Association is a local NGO set up after Australian development assistance agency, APACE, moved out of agricultural assistance some years ago.

The consultancy, TerraCircle regional development team Oceania, was established by ex-APACE staff, Tony Jansen (who did a Permaculture Design Course with Bill Mollison), Lisa McMurray and Russ Grayson (Permaculture Design Course with Robyn Francis) who were joined by plant pathologist, Dr Grahame Jackson and community development/health worker, John Vail, who spent more than a decade in the Tari region of PNG's Southern Highlands. With the joining of two Solomon Islanders as associate members, TerraCircle became a regional entity.

KGA operates the Solomon Islands Planting Material Network which facilitates the production and exchange by farmers of agricultural seed and vegetative planting material. The Network was set up in 1996 following a workshop tour by Jude and Michel Fanton, Seed Savers Network, Australia.

More on KGA and TerraCircle: www.terracircle.org.au
Melanesian Farmer First Network: www.terracircle.org.au/mffn