Oceania

        






Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Land Resources Division, www.spc.int/lrd

Policy Brief 12/2010: Developing a Policy Framework for Extension Systems (excellent)


APEN Australasia-Pacific Extension Network www.apen.org.au/default.asp

APIRAS, Asia and Pacific Islands network of Rural Advisory Services, www.apirasnetwork.org

Directory of Development Organizations in Oceania, www.devdir.org/oceania.htm

Institute for Research Extension and Training in Agriculture, IRETA

at the University of the South Pacific, Faculty of Business and Economics, http://www.usp.ac.fj/index.php?id=ireta

"The Institute of Research, Extension and Training in Agriculture embodies the University of the South Pacific’s mandate to address the needs and challenges facing agriculture development in the Pacific.

IRETA was established in 1980 as an Institute of the University of the South Pacific (USP).

IRETA’s vision is to provide quality living for the rural communities through agricultural development.

It’s mission statement is to contribute to the sustainable growth and development of the Pacific Island Countries by responding appropriately to their needs for research, extension and training in agriculture."

IRETA with SAFT, its ALO Network, partners and various stakeholders continues to produce and disseminate relevant information through accessible and affordable means.

IRETA ‘s  Development Media strives to strengthen extension services through the production and wide distribution of relevant information. The regional newsletter South Pacific Agricultural News (SPAN) and the Journal of South Pacific Agriculture (JOSPA) are flagship publications and example of IRETA’s efforts.


"The ALO network is made up of 10 Agricultural Liaison Officers from around the Pacific.  These countries include Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.  The ALOs provide a two way link between IRETA and agricultural ministries, farmers and other organizations within their countries.  The ALO networks main goal is to 'Strengthen national research and extension activities and improve national agricultural information and communication services in the Pacific region'

The Agricultural Liasion Officers (ALO) network began its operation in 1983 as two way linkage between IRETA and the USP member countries. The Network has 10 ALOs and remains the corner stone of IRETA's outreach program in information sharing and dissemination to its stakeholders within and between the P-ACP member nations. Apart from an annual ALO meeting to review its current year's achievements and plan the following year's programs, the ALO's also contribute to IRETA's South Pacific Agriculture News (SPAN) that is widely distributed and read throughout the Pacific region.

ALOs provide coordinatiion role for most of IRETA activities at the national level. In short, ALO network serves as the "eyes and ears" of IRETA in promoting information exchange and development at the national level.

ALOs and stakeholders have established a site called Dgroups joining together with IRETA staff as registered members. The main purpose for the Dgroups is for ALOs and other selected members to exchange information online and inform all ALOs about IRETAs forthcoming events on workshops, meetings, study visits, etc and activities. Dgroups will also help promote IRETA's work in the Pacific-ACP countries. Through the Dgroups site, ALOs will be able to communicate much more efficiently with the Ministries of Agriculture and small farmers who in various role provide the basis for their agricultural development. For more information regarding Dgroups. Enter ALO Community Space

The ALO's activities include mainly the following

  • Write or facilitate submissions to SPAN of 11 well written articles of about 250 words plus photo or illustration for 11 SPAN issues covering a wide range of agricultural, forestries and fisheries activities, events, etc.
  • Arrange, collect, facilitate for submissions to IRETA 2 articles for JOSPA.
  • Identify and submit within 2 months, 2 national agricultural publications at the request of the director IRETA to specific ALOs.
  • Distribute monthly issues of SPAN, other printed materials, videos, etc on timely basis.
  • Provide support to IRETA's QAS and other information services of agricultural stakeholders.
  • Maintain and strengthen linkages with local clients, amongst ALOs, IRETA and other regional organisations."