Making agriculture attractive, sensible and cutting edge
The proposed funding and resourcing plan of $3.5 million to Revitalise Agriculture in the Southern Cook Islands needs a team that is knowledgeable and experienced in Agriculture, and most importantly have a ‘Can Do’ attitude that thinks and actions innovatively to make agriculture attractive, sensible and cutting edge both in the Cook Islands and overseas.

The final draft document of revitalising agriculture in our Southern Islands dated November 2009 is a document where ‘cut and paste’ methods to compile information is used (and frequently used in many other documents regardless of sector) making the intent at most times clear and needed. However, when one sights the front page and observes the various names of individuals who have assisted in developing the document, you quickly realise without having to read any further that the document will lack depth and contextualisation and it does. If we want to ensure that Agriculture has a sure chance of heading towards improving its food security for our people and reducing imported produce then it must without question, include people who have the experience and know-how in agriculture; as it is in the Cook Islands.
Sensible agricultural know-how is lacking in various parts of the document but this can be easily improved by ensuring the document highlights the importance of soil tests to identify the nutrients and trace elements in the soil and therefore minimising the use of fertilisers; maximising the opportunity to improve soil condition and therefore enabling and assuring farmers to produce quality produce in quantity. This has to be the highest priority along with pest and fauna identification to equip farmers with appropriate therapeutic chemical or biological applications and weed control. After all, what is the use of understanding market demands, global trends and transportation constraints if we do not include within the revitalisation of agriculture, simple soil tests to understand and improve the quality of our soil, to sustain not only our people but also the environment that we live in. There is also a need to circulate such documents to be ‘peer reviewed’ by at least 2 to 3 other appropriate people who are conversant in Cook Islands Agriculture. To not do so, allows for the continuation of a ‘stop and start’ approach to Cook Islands Agriculture.
We thrived in the 1970’s and proved we can do what needs to be done, despite some of our agricultural practices having a negative impact on the condition of our soils. Forty years later we now have to inject a $3.5 million kick start. With this type of money proposed for revitalising our agricultural sector, we need to get it right. There is very little, if any room for unwise use of such an injection of funds into Cook Islands Agriculture. The ability to uplift and untangle us from what has kept us back from being cutting edge in our agricultural activities can be achieved, we just need the right team with the right attitude.