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AGRICULTURE' slzE AND DIsTAtlcE IN SOUTH PActFIc ISLAND FUTURES
R. Gerard Werd
Research School of pacifie Studies
Australian National University
Canberra, Australia
ABSTRACT
Agriculture is usually considered Eo be the keystone of Pacific Island
economies- This paper examines the scope for developrnent of various agricultural
systems within the Pacific Islands.
The effeets which small size, insularity and distance from markets and sources
of inputs all have m the agricultural potential of the islands are considered.
The Pacific Island States include the worldrs smallest independent or semi-independent
countries in terms of population. They also include some of the smallest in land area; some of
the largest if their Exclusive Eeonomic Zones are included; some of the most isolated; and
some of the most fr-agmented and dispersed. These features all bear on the agricuitural
resources of the Pacific islands; on the assessrnent of them, and on their use potentials.
ln this paper I will outline the general pattern of resource potentials in the regionl
describe the agricultural systems through which these resources were used in the i".t;
indicate some trends in the commercial and non-commercial segnnnts of agriculture todayi
and zuggest the directions which agricultural resource use is lkLly to take in the next few
decades. Small size, both of individual islands and states, and great distances, both between
islands and states' and from markets and sources of importe witl obviously influence these
directions.
Resource potentials
It is important to recognize a basic division between the larger Pacific Islands Statea,
the Melanesian States of Fiji, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands m the one handi
and the smaller, Polynesian or Micronesian states m the other. The former have larger hnj
areas and rnore varied landforms. Their range of elevation and exposure give climatic variety.
Their surface water resources are greater and rmre secure. Their fish rlsources are greater
as a result of their wider areas of shallow seas, and with both denrersal end pelagic $ecies,
they have greater potential for artisanal and industrial fieheriee. Fmest resources are rxrre
extensive and there is greater variety in landforms, climete and soils.
Tfe atolls of Kiribati, Tuvalu, Tokelau, the Northern Coks end the Tuemotus lack
surface water, have little soil, and lie exposed to the risk of teunami or hurricane. Tfeir
range of crops is inevitably narrow. Even m the higher volcenic iglends of polynesia, the
flora and faune ere less varied than in the western pacitic and the variety of environrental
conditions more restricted.
It may be argued thet thig eontrast in environnental variety was of timited aignificance
in
.
creating inequality in opportunity in the socio-econornic ayslem. of pre-contact timea.
With eome obvious qualifications, a relatively narrow range of ctopa was grown throughout
the region. Almost everywhere communitieg could end did produce virtually elt ttreir aesential
needs from the local environnent, with a minimum of dependence on -trade or exchenge.
Alrnost all types of lend could and did a.rpport some population.