Pacific farmers

Pacific warned about African swine flu

A notification was sent to government's agriculture and border agencies in the Northern Marianas.

The African swine flu, while harmless to humans, is fatal and highly contagious in pigs, with the potential to devastate the swine industry in Micronesia.

Authorities in the Philippines have culled thousands of pigs since the flu was discovered there.

A 2017 survey of livestock in the CNMI revealed 36 pig producers on Saipan with a total of nearly 1000 pigs being raised.

     

Pacific farmers using web tools for market updates

RNZI reports the workshop, by the Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community, or POETCom, began in Niue last week, and will move to the Cook Islands and the Marshall Islands.

POETCom's coordinator, Karen Mapusua, says farming is often just seen as manual labour by young people, but social media and internet skills can be useful in the agriculture sector.