DEAR EDITOR, prompted by reading of the recent visit to the Solomon Islands by the non-resident Israeli Ambassador I remembered reading how in Israel parts of the Negev Desert had been transformed from sand into productive farmland.

I wanted to find out more and came across this information in a magazine called Israel Tourist from which I quote.

“Desert agriculture in Israel is one of the country’s greatest successes, and something at which Israel leads the world. The Negev Desert which covers over 60% of the country has actually shrunk in size over the past century as agricultural activity has turned sand into green fields, the opposite to the desertification trend which much of the rest of the world is battling to prevent. Even in the depths of Israel’s Negev Desert are gems of agriculture amid the harsh, dry conditions, and relatively mineral-deprived sandy soil.”

Israeli company, “Netafim, invented modern drip irrigation technology in the 1960’s. This allowed the precious and scarce water resources of the desert to be used at extreme limits to grow crops. Among the most noteworthy crops grown in the Israeli desert are cherry tomatoes – the modern strain which are found in grocery stores around the world was developed in the Negev. The cherry tomatoes grown in the Negev are 2-3 times sweeter than those found elsewhere due to the amount of water used, and the unique qualities of minerals found in the water. Today, agriculturalists are developing even newer strains of the tomato to increase yields further (already the Negev grows 3-4 times greater yields of tomatoes compared to elsewhere in the world).”

Using drip irrigation methods in the Solomon Islands to convert sand into soil would possibly not be practical and I turned to new developments in China where alternative methods are reported to have achieved great success.

In an article written by Ryan General, entitled “Chinese Scientists Develop Revolutionary Paste that Transforms Desert into Fertile Farmland.”

I came across this interesting report (quote)

“China has reportedly developed a technology that is able to transform desert lands into arable soil that could grow crops and natural vegetation.

“According to CTGN, Chinese scientists have achieved success in growing crops in areas with less than ideal conditions caused by lack of rain and extremely hot temperatures.

“The huge breakthrough was recently presented at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in September2015 in the Chinese desert city of Ordos, where over 100 countries in attendance committed to setting national timelines to stop desertification by 2030.

“The technology behind the Chinese innovation was developed by researchers at Chongqing Jiaotong University. The scientists developed a paste made of a substance found in plant cell walls that, when mixed with sand, is able to retain water, nutrients, and air.

“One particular location where the plants have been thriving is in a desert in North China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

“According to our calculation, there are over 70 kinds of crops growing here. Many are not planted by us but they just grow themselves,” Chongqing Jiaotong University Associate Professor Zhao Chaohua was quoted as saying.

“Over the course of six months, over 200 hectares of sand is being turned into plantations yielding corn, tomatoes, sorghum, and sunflowers. A reforestation project is also currently in the works, which is set to reforest 50% of degraded desert land in three years.”

“The costs of artificial materials and machines for transforming sand into soil is lower compared with controlled environmental agriculture and reclamation,” Chongqing Jiaotong University professor Yang Qingguo said.

“Researchers are looking into expanding their project this fall, with a plan to transform another 200 hectares of desert. In the next few years, the scientists are confident that they can turn over 13,000 hectares more into fertile ground.

“Chinese forestry officials have stated that the area of desertified land in the country has so far been dropping by an annual average of more than 2,400 square kilometers.”

Technological advances in desertified land might help the Solomon Islands especially in advancing re-grow in parts of the country where logging over the years has reduced the ground to sand-like conditions.

I believe the Government of Israel could well be instrumental in aiding the Solomon Islands in such work and, perhaps, the Taiwanese Government too.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

DEAR EDITOR, over the weekend I was reading about the level of domestic and family violence in the Cook Islands where the number of reported domestic violence cases dropped from 185 in 2016 to 170 last year but the rate is still considered to be high.

The 2014 Family Health and Safety Survey found violence against women and children is ingrained in Cook Islands society and there are signs that this is still the case.

Education is crucial in bringing the number of cases down and that has to start at a young age in school, including empowering women it has been said.

In the Solomon Islands I believe a conference that was spearheaded by the SIBC has just been held on the ongoing problem of domestic violence and the tragic incidence of sexual abuse of young children.

I await the results of that conference with interest.

In conjunction with my reading of the prevailing situation in the Cook Islands regarding domestic and family violence, I read the very interesting and informative Submission on the Human Rights issues that confront women and girls in the Asia-Pacific region.

As an adjunct to the findings that are likely to emerge from the SI conference, I would really recommend that the participants of that conference get hold of a copy of the document for it is my belief that it contains some valuable recommendations to further the human rights issues that transcend across all the small Pacific nations in terms of understanding and finding better solutions to the scourge of domestic and family violence.

The document is entitled – ‘Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.’

It is an Inquiry into the Human Rights issues confronting women and girls in the Indian Ocean – Asia Pacific Region.

It can be obtained from the SECRETARIAT OF THE PACIFIC COMMUNITY BP D5, 98848 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia TELEPHONE: +687 26.20.00 FAX: +687 26.38.18

The contact person is the Programme Manager, Linda Petersen.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

DEAR EDITOR, it was reported from Honiara last today, February 2, 2018, that a petition was being organized by the patients, health workers and their supporters at the NRH and that signatures were being collected to petition the Prime Minister to call for a Commission of Enquiry (COE) into the medical and health service provided at the National Referral Hospital (NRH)

The petition is reportedly aimed at seeing the recommendations set in the 2009 and 2015 Special Select Committee report into the Quality of Medical Services provided at NRH are fully implemented, with special attention on the development aspects of the NRH.

In April 2009 the SI Parliament resolved on a motion to appoint a Special Select Committee to inquire into the quality of medical services provided at the National Referral Hospital (NRH).

Since then only a few of the recommendations have been achieved and the quality of medical services at the NRH is claimed to be poor.

The petitioners support the call for the national government to carry out work on the recommendations adding that the NRH needs a total restructuring.

In undertaking this petition one should not overlook or diminish the dedicated service performed by the doctors, nurses and support staff of the NRH and take into consideration the tremendous services they perform in often not too ideal working conditions.

Likewise, we should not overlook the help that has been given, and continues to be given, by many charitable persons and organizations committed to the welfare of the NRH’s patients, including children, the disabled, the very sick and to the material, equipment and medical supplies needs of the hospital.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

DEAR EDITOR, quoting an article in the Pacific Courier in October2016 I came across this informative article during this weekend.

As the story is already 15 months old I query why it is taking so long for the likely proactive measures mentioned in the article to curb the threat of the rhinoceros beetle causing such widespread damage to the coconut trees in the Solomon Islands?

“SUVA, Fiji— The Pacific Community (SPC) is taking proactive measures to assist Samoa and other Pacific Island countries and territories in their efforts to curb any resurgence of the coconut rhinoceros beetle.

“SPC, with support from AgResearch New Zealand, has dispatched to Samoa’s Ministry of Agriculture 1000 sachets of male aggregate pheromones, called Oryctalure, to trap these beetles (Oryctes rhinoceros) which can cause severe damage when they bore into the crowns of coconut palms to feed on sap.

“Coconut palms cover around 30 percent of Samoa’s land mass and contribute SAT$8 million annually to the Pacific Island nation’s economy.

“In 2007 the total value of exports of coconut products from Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa and Kiribati was valued at 14.4 million.

“The use of male aggregate pheromones, such as Oryctalure, has proven effective in suppressing the beetle’s population and could assist in preventing the spread of a new strain, called the Guam biotype.

“The Guam biotype beetle, believed to be highly invasive and capable of inflicting severe damage to palms, poses a real threat to food security and socio-economic development of Pacific Island nations.

“This new strain of coconut rhinoceros beetle is already present in Guam, the mainland of Papua New Guinea, Palau, Hawaii and Guadalcanal in Solomon Islands and comprehensive research is needed to determine the effectiveness of different pheromones on different beetle biotypes, SPC Entomologist, Dr Maclean Vaqalo, explained.

“One sachet of the pheromones we have sent to Samoa’s Ministry of Agriculture can last up to three months in a trap, depending on environmental conditions. This is an immediate measure that will be used as an early warning system to monitor the likely presence of the Guam biotype, especially at high quarantine risk areas, Dr Vaqalo said.

“Coconut and similar palms thrive in regions where there is no cold season and minimal dry season and, as a result, the coconut rhinoceros beetles are able to reproduce throughout the year.

“SPC, with support from regional scientists, has recently drafted a regional approach to effectively control this new strain of beetle which addresses emergence response and quarantine awareness, exploration of effective biological control measures, and outreach to farming communities to adopt integrated pest management best practices, Dr Vaqalo said.

“The regional approach was agreed to and supported by plant protectionists in the region during the Pacific Plant Protection Organisation and Regional Technical Meeting of Plant Protection (PPPO & RTMPP) meetings held in Nadi, Fiji, in September 2015.

“We’re also providing technical advice and assistance on biosecurity, quarantine and integrated pest management measures for the coconut rhinoceros beetle,” Dr Vaqalo said.

“The regional approach in the area of biosecurity awareness, emergence response and management of the beetle biotypes in the region will only work well if funding is forthcoming to implement the work plan.

“SPC looks forward to working with Pacific countries and territories, as well as scientific institutions and fund donors from within the region and abroad to address the regional approach.”

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

DEAR EDITOR, the bid to increase the number of overseas visitors implies extra budgetary support and better Infrastructure, including regular repairs to provincial airstrips.

The Solomon Islands Government is pushing to attract more overseas visitors this year according to a recent article in the Solomon Star newspaper from which I quote a few paragraphs.

“The SI Government is targeting a 9% growth of international visitor arrivals this year.

“Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela made the statement during the 2018 Tourism in Focus, held at the Honiara Mendana Hotel, Tuesday.

“The event gathered stakeholders and tourism operators in the country to discuss and come up with new innovative ideas and approaches that will drive the positive changes in the industry.

“Mr Houenipwela said that in order to realize and achieve the target, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) needed to cooperate and support stakeholders to build a momentum with strategic and clinical approaches to its activities.

“In September 2017, the global tourism performance registered a strong growth at 6.9% slightly more than double the performance at the same period in 2017.

“Having seen the increase in 2017, I have no doubts that 2018 will be the year to push new boundaries and to challenge the status quo so that visitor arrivals can grow in leaps and bounds to drive new investments to our humble destinations,” the prime minister said.”

Increasing visitor arrivals and encouraging them to stay and tour the country will need extra budget support and better infrastructure including repairs and upgrading to many of the smaller provincial airstrips.

The call for more visitors coincided with a statement to the local media last week by Solomon Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Mr Brett Gebers, who sought to clarify why the reschedule of many of its domestic flights in the recent past was because of unserviceable equipment largely due in part in obtaining spare parts because of eroded runway surfaces due to bad weather and heavy rain.

Mr Gebers reportedly said, “Our domestic aircraft operate in harsh conditions caused primarily by the state of the runways that we operate to.”

He added that rough surfaces of domestic runways cause significant vibration during landing and take-off phases which implied deterioration in certain parts of the aircraft and often this leads to premature failure of components.

“The failure of these components results in schedule disruptions as we must make appropriate repairs on aircraft. We are not responsible for maintaining the runway surfaces throughout the Solomon Islands.”

Importantly, Mr Gebers said, “because of ongoing high costs for maintenance and cancelled or rescheduled fights, Solomon Airlines have offered to pay, and carry out required runway rehabilitation work on many occasions. But each time they were denied approval to do the required work.”

Mr Gebers stressed that their (Solomon Airlines) customers, passengers and crew are of paramount importance and they must come first in their services.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT