The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)
The FSM is an independent sovereign island nation consisting of four states – from west to east, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae – that are spread across the Western Pacific Ocean. The cultures and customs of each island in the western Pacific are diverse and unique from one another. In Pohnpei, traditional subsistence farming produce important food staples from the agro‐forest system. Deep ocean and coastal resources provided essential protein requirements from the wealth of seafood catches. In addition, small‐scale chicken and hog operations produce high quality protein foods. A great value is placed upon pork, in both cultural and economic context, beyond its value as a protein food source. The demand for fresh pork for use in community ceremonies, such as weddings and funerals, and tributes to traditional leaders is very high, resulting in an extraordinary cash value for these animals. The subsistence agrarian nature of these farms, coupled with the family and community’s inherent social responsibility to provide pigs for these events, is the underlying rationale for the many piggeries found on the island.
Status of Piggery Operations
Many piggeries are located near water bodies, on coastal mangroves as well as stream banks. Upland piggeries are located near gullies and gulches, which drain into tributaries of surface water resources. A typical small piggery facility in Pohnepi includes a few pigs raised for family or village celebrations and tributes. Pen cleaning is water-based where wastewater is flush out the rear of the pens onto the ground. The environmental impact of these small piggeries seem negligible, until you consider the great number of backyard operations exist to meet the high demand for pork in the islands.
In 2011, an assessment of fifteen piggery operations were conducted on the island of Pohnpei to gather information and to develop an understanding of the piggery size, current waste management practices, typical water use for pen cleaning, manure and wastewater generation, potential for agronomic use of the nutrients and an environmental scan of water resources in the piggery production areas. Extension personnel from the College of Micronesia, Cooperative Research and Extension land grant program selected the assessment sites. In addition, GPS location data were recorded for each site.
NOTE: there are currently no statistics on the total number of pigs and piggeries operations in Pohnpei. This assessment is not designed to provide census survey‐type of information, but to characterize the nutrient management systems deployed (i.e., water and nutrients generated from the operations) to examine the potential environmental impacts of the piggeries and to develop strategies to improve nutrient management alternatives.
In 2011, an assessment of fifteen piggery operations were conducted on the island of Pohnpei to gather information and to develop an understanding of the piggery size, current waste management practices, typical water use for pen cleaning, manure and wastewater generation, potential for agronomic use of the nutrients and an environmental scan of water resources in the piggery production areas. Extension personnel from the College of Micronesia, Cooperative Research and Extension land grant program selected the assessment sites. In addition, GPS location data were recorded for each site.
NOTE: there are currently no statistics on the total number of pigs and piggeries operations in Pohnpei. This assessment is not designed to provide census survey‐type of information, but to characterize the nutrient management systems deployed (i.e., water and nutrients generated from the operations) to examine the potential environmental impacts of the piggeries and to develop strategies to improve nutrient management alternatives.
Status of Water Resources
The main sources of fresh water are surface water, groundwater and rainwater. The primary source of fresh water in most of the Island States compromises of both underground, surface water and rainwater; the small islands for each state are fully dependable on rain water and shallow wells due to the low elevation of the islands. In the FSM’s raised coralline islands, the freshwater lens is tapped through shallow, hand-dug wells to supplement the rainwater catchments and storage tanks which are widely used and commonly the main source of drinking water in the outer islands.
Piggery Advisory Council
The Piggery Advisory Council (PAC) first convened on December 8, 2011. This interagency group consists of technical agencies, regulatory authorities, public health advocates, grant funding agencies, and private sector representatives. The Council members have a common mission surrounding the well-being of pig growers and the citizens of the FSM. A facilitated strategic planning session was held on March 1, 2012. At the session, PAC members reaffirmed their commitment to work together to help farmers raise pigs in an environmentally sustainable manner without risk to public health, as well as to meet cultural obligations and economic needs.
VISION: Pig growers are healthier, happier, and more prosperous.
VISION: Pig growers are healthier, happier, and more prosperous.
Resources
Malani, Joji, Jan Pryor, Kapiteni Lusangulira. 1996. Leptospirosis in Pohnpei (1986-1995): A case series on the use of dopamine/steroid for Weil’s Syndrome. Pacific Health Dialog, J. Community Health and Clinical Medicine for the Pacific, Vol. 3 No. 2., p. 153-161.