The Crops Advisory & Information Services  

Goal – To provide appropriate technical crops information and demonstrations, to stakeholders (individual farmers / growers, farming communities, government ministries, NGOs, private sector) on sustainable crop production and management practices, to improve and increased subsistence and commercial farm production.   

The Crops Advisory & Information section  Consist of two units: 

 i. Crops Advisory (Upolu and Savaii)

ii. Crops Information & Communication (Upolu & Savaii) 

A. Locations – 1. Crops Advisory – Serves the public and communities through; 

- Crops Advisory based in Upolu – Headquarter in Nuu

Agricultural Stations-

Aleisa, Sataoa(Safata District), Savaia Lefaga), Poutasi(Falealili), Fusi(Falelatai & Samatau),

Satitoa(Aleipata)

Crops Advisory unit / office based at MAF Salelologa Savaii Headquarter.                         Agricultural Stations

Salailua, Papa Sataua, Asau, Sasina 

 2. Information Units 

- Central Information / Resource Centre at Nuu – Crops Division Headquater            - Subunit / Resource unit at MAF Salelologa  Headquarters.       

 B. The roles of Crops Advisory (Service) – Mandate.            

Crops Advisory.

Ø      Conduct participatory appraisals and consultations with village communities, crop based groups on agricultural / crop issues.  

Ø      Assist farmers / communities with developing logical framework of activities and work-plans, goals, objectives based on appraisals.

Ø      Assist farmers / organizations, communities with project proposal development plans and write up.

Ø      Conduct on - farm demonstrations and visitations for communities, organizations and individual farms. 

Ø      Facilitate, conduct training workshop for farmers and communities on crop production practices, pests and disease control measures, farm management practices.

Ø      Assist with the distribution and selling of planting materials for farmers based on demands / requests from farmers.

Ø      Collaborate with other Government Ministries, Corporations, NGOs, on matters pertaining to agriculture production.

Ø      Assist communities, farmers with report compiliation, writing for donor funding agencies.

Information / Resource centre.

Ø      Compiles, develops, publishes / disseminates agricultural information thru extension printed materials (leaflets, manuals, books, brochures, and posters), video production, and use of media (television, radio, internet, telecentres in collaboration with MCIT).

Ø      Manage and maintain resource centers in Upolu (Crops Central Office – Nuu)  & Savaii (Central Office at MAF / Crops Unit – Salelologa).    

 C. Approach Staffs are recruited as Crops Advisory Officers (CAO) or Crops Advisory Assistants (CAA) per respective crops. The operation of system is based on the bottom - up Participatory Appraisals approach.   

 D. Staff.

Office at Savaii (Salelologa)

Maanaima Matau - Senior Agriculture Officer

Tuua Saipele Komiti - CAO - Rural Community Project Officer (donor funded projects on Savaii Island)  

Leatigaga Tali Ioane - CAO - Cocoa

Maposua Akenese - CAA - Coconut

Faasoa Nimarota - CAO - Root Crop (Talo, taamu, yams, cassava, umala)

Aemalo Pati - CAO - Kava

Nonu Mailata Hemi - CAA - Vegetable Assistant

Faamatala F - CAA - Vegetables Assistant

Seluia Afaese - CAA - Fruit Trees / Pineapple 

Folofoloimalo Toilolo - CAA - Spices (Vanilla, Black pepper)                                                                

Office in Upolu (Nuu)

Emmanuel Ah Leong - Senior Agriculture Officer – Upolu (Donor funded projects)

Toloa Tauvela - CAO - Cocoa

Samalaulu Falevaai - CAO - Vegetable

Veronika Folau - CAA - Vegetable

Fou Matafeo - CAA - Papaya

Sailo Pao - CAA - Coconut

Mikaele Te’o - CAA - Root crops (cassava,umala)

Pauni Alaga - CAA - Root crops (talo, taamu)

Tamoe Tautu - CAO - Fruit trees

Pule Elia - CAO - Banana

Mu Vaamainuu - CAO - Spices(Vanilla, Black pepper)

NonuLoise Tulaga - CAA - Fruit Tree

Keneti Leavasa - CAO - Breadfruit (including pineapple)  

Information Unit 1.

1. Ms Mafutaga Tinifu - Senior Information Officer

2. Information Officer - Vacant

3. Susana Tekori - Information Assistant / Librarian

4. Tupito Moananu - Audio Visual Technician (causal)