Pacific Regional Coconut Development

[Vinay Chand]

To keep the Group informed, I will this weekend begin my second and last Mission to the Pacific to develop findings made on the first mission in November into feasibility level analysis. I will again visit Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

 

An overall indicative budget of 35 million Euros has been noted and on completion of the studies by the end of March, the project will be submitted for ACP funding. We have benefitted from a low profile approach but which also indicates some element of aid project fatigue since most such projects do not lead to anything on the ground. However, this one is directed at investments on the ground directly with the private sector and communities instead of being a development programme that ends up in a series of workshops for capacity development but nothing on the ground.

 

The success or failure of the project will be objectively verifiable in the form of extra income for farmers, export earnings and other financial indicators. The objective is a pilot scale regional coconut development with the largest system destined to be in Santo, Vanuatu. Not only should the project lead to direct verifiable gains but it is entirely likely that the project will be funded this summer and the pilot plants producing next year. By the end of 2013 the success of the project will have been proven and hopefully the regional coconut sector changed for the better. Hopefully again, the lead that the Pacific will give will inspire other regions.

 

The project has relied on private sector proposals and willingness to provide a lead. The countries where there was no clear investment proposal will be able to follow suit when the pilot has been established and proven. There has been no attempt to persuade countries to accept a project not formulated by them since commitment is an important criteria.

 

By the time the next announcement is made, the die will have been cast. My own thinking is best reflected on my web site below.

 

Best wishes,

 

Vinay Chand,
www.ruraldevelopment.info