In the wake of the recent Grower Water Tariff meeting, Cook Islands organic movement Natura Kuki Airani is advocating for collaboration between stakeholder groups to reduce agricultural water use and improve animal welfare.

In a statement, it said leading up to the June 2024 water tariff meetings, water authority To Tatou Vai (TTV) drew public attention to the watering of livestock.

The low-cost method of providing animals with water supply is to run a hose to an enclosure, “but the fluctuation in water pressure means that water delivery varies”.

“What is only a trickle in the morning, may become a torrent overnight,” it adds.

NKA spokesperson Andy Kirkwood says TTV will be charging agricultural users from October 2024 “but there are smarter ways to enable water conservation”.

Larger scale producers have semi-permanent structures, but smallholders move stock between a number of locations. This means that the watering system must also be portable.

Instead of water charges, the organics group is advocating for fabrication and distribution of a simple, self-contained livestock watering unit.

Kirkwood says a “sow trough” is a rainwater barrel plumbed using a standard hose connector. A float valve controls water storage and “teat” valves at the base control water release.

“TTV, Ministry of Agriculture, and Red Cross have the mandate, means, and networks to make this happen,” says Kirkwood.

A novel benefit of the concept is to grow water lettuce in the barrel. The aquatic plant is an effective mosquito control, producing an enzyme that prevents insect larvae from maturing.

“It’s a floating venus fly-trap. Insects provide the plant with proteins. The rosettes can also be harvested as pig feed.”

At a community meeting in April, TTV representative Chris Langdale advised that meter installation will cost up to $1000 per connection.

NKA say that fixed metering won’t work for agriculture.

“The $1000 per meter would be better spent providing two or three troughs to farmers.”
NKA has provided information on the sow trough concept to Ministry of Agriculture and Red Cross.

- Natura Kuki Airani