Virtual sessions are free and open to all coconut farmers and stakeholders, but you need to register online by following this link.
The Pacific Community (SPC) is organizing a virtual and physical workshop for Pacific region farmers & agricultural officers on in situ coconut conservation at the following dates: 24/25 April (virtual); 2-4 May (PNG, field); 10-12 May (Fiji, field). Here again is the Zoom registration link:
The workshop, in English language, will: 1) Equip farmers and agricultural officers with the necessary information and tools to effectively conserve in situ and develop coconut varieties for improved livelihoods; and 2) Strengthen germplasm data management on coconut varieties in Pacific island countries.
Virtual sessions are open to all coconut farmers, but you need to register rate by sending an email to carmelp@spc.int. Please indicate your country, location, phone contact, and professional activity.
Many video presentations from this meeting are already online on Youtube. You can access the full list by clicking here. Please do not hesitate to comment, to ask questions and… like the videos!
Virtual session summaries
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The first session will highlight major collaborative documents produced earlier that can be used by agricultural officers. Using a simple practical approach, the three other sections will cover methods for collecting and characterizing coconut germplasm, and germplasm data management.
The second day of the virtual workshop, also over four hours, covers the same subjects in a form more suited to farmers. It will provide details about the diversity of coconut varieties, how this diversity varies by environment, how difficult it is to maintain and improve varieties. It will explain the concept of hybrids, and how to create them, thanks to a better understanding of the reproductive biology of the coconut palm. It offers simple solutions for farmers to maintain and improve their coconut plantations. It ends with a discussion with the farmers on their needs with regard to coconut varieties
The second day of the virtual workshop, also over four hours, covers the same subjects in a form more suited to farmers. It will provide details about the diversity of coconut varieties, how this diversity varies by environment, how difficult it is to maintain and improve varieties. It will explain the concept of hybrids, and how to create them, thanks to a better understanding of the reproductive biology of the coconut palm. It offers simple solutions for farmers to maintain and improve their coconut plantations. It ends with a discussion with the farmers on their needs with regard to coconut varieties
Field workshops in Fiji and PNG are limited to 15 national participants, but additional personnel may attend at the local organizers cost if project costs cannot cover more than 15 participants.
The field training workshops will be delivered over a period of three days. The first two days are specifically designed for farmers, but agricultural officers must assist/attend to learn how to train farmers. The third day is more technical and orientated towards agricultural officers, but farmers are encouraged to attend this session if interested.
The online workshop and field trainings have been held under the auspices of the project numbered FAO ITPGRFA-PR363-Fiji supported by the FAO-ITPGRFA Benefit-Sharing Fund, and entitled: "Safeguarding threatened coconut diversity within the upgraded International Coconut Genebank for the South Pacific."
© R. Bourdeix, section DIFF-009, 2023