Local growers gathered at a Plant Health Clinic on Friday last week, designed to offer expert diagnosis and management of weeds, insects and diseases.

This initiative, part of the SAFE Pacific project funded by the European Union and implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC), aimed to boost plant doctors’ ability to care for plants and soil on the island, promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

The clinic held at the Ministry of Agriculture headquarters in Arorangi provided a platform for farmers to bring their plants for examination, ensuring that they receive accurate diagnoses and effective management strategies for their agricultural challenges.

Senior biosecurity officer, Piriariki Maao shows the types of pests and diseases found in plants and soil. TALAIA MIKA/24072212

Piriariki Maao, a senior biosecurity officer and a farmer himself, highlighted the significance of the training for both new and experienced staff.

“The training has been good so far throughout the week, looking at not only plan health but also looking at the soils,” Maao said.

“Throughout the week was also a good refresher for some of us staff that’s been in the ministry for a bit. We’ve had some trainings in the past in regards to the pest identification but this (last) week, it’s a good opportunity to refresh that memory to helping solve farmer problems whether that’s a pest disease or nutrient deficiencies.”

Maao also mentioned a new method introduced during the training.

“One of the new methods that was quite interesting was a flow chart that was developed by a soil professor in Tonga looking at analysing nutrient deficiencies in plants. So it’s quite a comprehensive flow chart which helps us plant doctors identify those deficiencies and really getting down to the cause of the problem.”

Eighty-four-year-old farmer, Ian Tupe Short. TALAIA MIKA/24072210

Eighty-four-year-old farmer, Ian Tupe Short was amongst the farmers who was present at the clinic who shared his insights on sustainable farming practices.

“All I understand is the way of enriching the soil, the best way of growing for the future. We have ruined our soil in the past, I noticed about 15 years ago when my father warned me, all the chemicals that I have there, it will kill the bugs and it will kill you too,” Short said.

Emphasising natural growing methods, Short added, “Every crop I’ve been growing, it is natural and I wouldn’t say it is fully organic but it’s naturally grown.”

“It’s the young ones that need to understand and know about this.”

Dr Rohit Lal, a soil scientist with SPC and one of the trainers, noted the comprehensive nature of the training.

“The Ministry of Agriculture Cook Islands staff have been trained to identify pest diseases and sustainable ways of controlling them,” Dr Lal explained. “Treatments that are environmentally friendly which helps controlling pests and at the same time gives the plant and the environment and soil healthy.”

Dr Lal highlighted the various factors affecting plant health in the Cook Islands stressing, “We’ve seen in the Cook Islands that there are a number of factors that are causing plants to be sick: one, nutrient deficiencies; two, pests; and third, disease.’
“These guys have learned how to control these pests and these diseases and nutrient deficiencies in the integrated way which is a combination of things that can be used which doesn’t affect the environment and gives the plants health so the food can be produced and used for consumption.”