Food security or risky investment? Palau’s livestock proposal faces scrutiny over evidence gaps

Excerpt from islandtimes.org

Last week, delegates passed a resolution urging President Whipps and the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment Ministry (MAFE) “to establish a cattle and livestock farm, primarily  cows and goats.”

Citing shipment delays and rising food costs, House Joint Resolution No. 12-12-3S aims to bolster Palau’s food security. Within the committee report, delegates claim that “cattle raising was successful during the Japanese Administration and further believe that it can be more successful and sustainable now with modern technology, learned knowledge, vast experience, and best practices, techniques, and methods we have obtained.”

The committee report also reports that following consultation with MAFE, the ministry recommended launching a pilot project for capacity building, local data collection, and expertise development to sustain the livestock sector. MAFE estimates start-up costs for a 30-cow cattle farm at $300,000–$450,000, and $47,000 for a smaller goat pilot farm.

Similar ideas have surfaced before. During the Toribiong administration’s Green Revolution initiative, pig semen from Taiwan was brought to Palau to boost the pig population, alongside 120 live goats. Furthermore, in 2008, Japan’s Tomoe Dairy Processing Co. President Toshio Nagata donated 22 cattle to the Ngiwal Livestock Association.