"I like my fruit trees to be as natural as they are..." was an ironic comment by one local farmer when fruit tree specialist recommended "pruning is very important".
This is a newly established projected funded by FAO; titled Fruit and Nut Tree Project and is assisted by specialist Mr. Brian Paxton from Cook Island. Mr. Paxton owns an orchid plantation up in the Cooks, and is now a contracted consultant for FAO to carry out the Fruit and Nut Tree Project for Niue. Local farmers along with interested recipients were invited to the official launch of the project followed by an inception workshop on outlining the core and key issues regarding the project. The one day workshop was carried out by Mr. Paxton along with FAO consultant Mr. Viliame Fakava. The session mainly covers the overview of the project.
The boring and theory part was all made up for when the gang head out onto the field to witness some real action. Recipients and local farmers got to visit various sites around Niue as a brief insight to caring and managing fruit trees. First stop was up at Taufakavalu Tukiuha's Orchid plantation; and without being said he was one delightful farmer with full of sarcasm with "I take care of my trees as I take care of myself...". Everyone got a good chance to witness Brian carrying out his pruning techniques over one of Valu's lime tree.
Next stop was at a banana plantation area owned by Mr. Pokotoa Sipelli, a local farmer and also one of the Ministers for the legislative assembly for Niue. Had a few pointers for managing a banana plantation from Mr. Paxton.
Last but not least was visiting what was said by owners John and Dorris Ranfurly as the "garden of Eden". They absolutely had a marvelous fruit tree plantation to put up for show.
As FAO consultant Mr. Fakava mentioned earlier during the inception workshop "it would be a great project having to be done here in Niue, as it already has an abundance of tropical fruit trees surrounding the island". Its something to look forward to in the near future, export wise.
