Source: COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA submitted to
PREVENTION OF SALT WATER INTRUSION IN TARO PATCHES IN PALAU
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0233015
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
MIR-PCC30
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Mar 1, 2013
Project End Date
Feb 28, 2017
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Del Rosario, AU.
Recipient Organization
COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA
PO BOX 1179
KOLONIA POHNPEI,FM 96941
Performing Department
COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION
Non Technical Summary
In Palau cultivation of taro is critical to socio-economic development as well as cultural obligations. It plays an important role in food security, customs, and cultural identity. It is usually cultivated very close to the sea and faces the threat of salt water inundation and wave overtopping. Thus, taro patches are vulnerable to climate change because of sea level rise, droughts and floods. Sea-level rise and increase of sea water temperature has led to accelerated loss of taro production areas and eventually decrease in taro production and supply. This project aims to assist farmers by providing alternative solutions to salt water intrusion and inundation of taro patches close to the sea. Among the activities to address this issue is the use of appropriate preventive measures to prevent /lessen salt water intrusion into taro patches such as reinforcement of dikes and providing flood gate controls.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
10301992050100%
Knowledge Area
103 - Management of Saline and Sodic Soils and Salinity;

Subject Of Investigation
0199 - Soil and land, general;

Field Of Science
2050 - Hydrology;
Goals / Objectives
1. To conduct a survey and identify wetland taro patches affected by salt water intrusion and inundation in the different states in Babeldaob, Palau 2. To identify a pilot site wherein appropriate prevention measures such as dikes and floodgates can be applied to prevent salt water intrusion to the wetland taro patch 3. To monitor, assess and evaluate the effectiveness of the preventive measure applied 4. To prepare a report on results of experiments for distribution to farmers and other agencies
Project Methods
1. A survey will be conducted among the farmers in the different states in Babeldaob, Palau to identify the wetland taro patches that are affected by salt water intrusion and inundation. Mapping will be done to identify the areas and extent of salt water intrusion and inundation in Babeldaob. 2. Selected pilot sites will be identified to apply appropriate preventive measures, such as construction and reinforcing the dikes or altering, changing the flow or improving the flood gates to prevent or control entry of sea water during high tide to mitigate salt water intrusion. 3. Monitoring and assessment of applied preventive measure will be done regularly to determine their effectiveness in mitigating salt water intrusion. 4. Results of these studies and experiments will be published in scientific journals and local publications .

Progress 03/01/13 to 02/28/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience are farmers with taro patches that are undergoing salt water intrusion, extension agents, governmnet officials. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The pilot and demonstration areas served as models for farmers and extension agents to adopt these measures for prevention of salt water intrusion into taro patches, especially those affected during extreme high tide. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Outreach was conducted in the demonstration and pilot areas to showcase to farmers and extension agents techniques that can be adopted to prevent salt water intrusion into taro patches especially during extreme high tide. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Survey of upland and lowland farm areas in Palau amount to 255.1 hectares. Of these, 76 hectares are lowland wetland areas. Survey of the lowland areas showed that 21% of the wetland areas equivalent to 16.4 hectares experience salt water intrusion especially during extreme high tide conditions. Taro patches with salt water intrusion in Ngimis, Ngatpang and Ollei, Ngarchelong were used as pilot and demonstration areas for prevention of salt water intrusion. Height of the main dike was increased using sand bags to prevent salt water from coming into the taro patch. Furthermore, 14-inch gate valves were installed at the point of entry of the salt water. Inaddition, secondary dikes were constructed inside the taro patch to prevent salt water from coming into the growing taro and allow drainage of fresh water. Monthly monitoring of the water level in the taro patch with tidal behavior showed the effectiveness of these measures in the prevcention of salt water intrusion into the growing taro. Farmers were invited to observe the measures done to prevent salt water intrusion into the taro patches, so they can also do it in their own areas.

Publications

  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Del Rosario, A.G., N.M. Esguerra and T. Taro. 2015. Taro Production in Palau. College of Micronesia Land Grant Programs. Kolonia, Pohnpei. 92pp.


Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience are farmers growing taro in salt water intruded taro patches in Palau. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Farmers were invited to observed the measures implemented for the prevention of salt water intrusion into the taro patch. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Technical assistance will be provided to affected farmers to prevent salt water intrusion into their taro patch.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Taro patches with salt water intrusion in Ngimis, Ngatpang and Ollei, Ngarchelong were used as pilot and demonstration sites for prevention of salt water intrusion. Height of the main dike was increased to prevent the salt water from coming into the taro patch. Furthermore, 14-inch gate valves were intalled at the point of entry of the salt water. In addition, secondary dikes were constructed inside the taro patch to prevent salt water from coming into the growing taro and allow drainage of fresh water. Monthly monitoring of level ofwater in the taro patch with the tidal behaviour showed the effectiveness of these measures in the prevention ofsalt water intrusion into the growing taro.

Publications


    Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

    Outputs
    Target Audience: Target audience are farmers growing taro in salt water intruded taro patches in Palau. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The farmers are also involved in the monitoring and assessment of the preventive measures installed with how the tides have affected the taro patch. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Continuous monitoring will be done to assess the effectiveness of the preventive measure installed in the taro patches used as pilot demonstration areas.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? A survey of upland and lowland farm areas revealed that there is a total of 255.1 hectares of farm areas in Palau. Of these, 76 hectares are lowland areas. Based on our survey, 16.4 hectares or an equivalent of 21% of lowland areas are experiencing salt water intrusion. This greatly affects food security since these lowland areas are devoted principally to taro production. Taro patches identified as pilot and demonstration sites with salt water intrusion were in Ngimis, Ngapang and in Ollei, Ngarchelong. Measures done to prevent salt water intrusion were increasing the height of the main dike and installation of gate valves at the entrance of salt water. Secondary dikes were also constructed inside the taro patch to prevent salt water from coming into the growing taro. Monitoring and assesment of the effectiveness of these measures are done each month with changes in the tidal behaviour in the taro patch.

    Publications


      Progress 03/01/13 to 09/30/13

      Outputs
      Target Audience: Target audience of this project are farmers growing taro in salt water intruded taro patches Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? There will be some changes in the lay-out of the dikes and waterwaysto prevent salt water from coming into the taro patch especially during high tide.

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? Wetland taro patches in the different states of Babeldaob were surveyed and those affected by salt water intrusion was noted. Extent of flooding with salt water especially during high tide was monitored Pilot sites for this project was identified in Ngimis, Ngatpang and in Ollei, Ngarchelong. A strategy for prevention of salt water intrusion into the taro patch during high tide is being developed.

      Publications