By Roland Bourdeix, Malua Solinuu. Valerie Saena Tuia and Alofa Leuluaialii

This website returns the information collected during four scientific visits conducted in 2001, 2010, 2012 and 2017 on behalf the Ministry of Agriculture of Samoa, the International Coconut Genetic Resources Network, the Secretatiat of the South Pacific Community, the Global Crop Diversity Trust, Bioversity International, CIRAD (French Centre for Agricultural Research and Development), the Coconut Industry Development for the Pacific (CIDP project) and the Darwin Initiative "Saving Pacific Coconuts".



Farmers and coconut associations in Samoa

Samoa Farmers Association (SFA) 

Contact: P.O. Box 1241, Apia, Samoa. Office (685) 27264 Mobile (685) 7230112, Email sfaofisa@hotmail.com, website www.samoafarmers.ws, Facebook page.

The Samoa Farmers Association (SFA) began life in 2006 as the Samoa Crops Cooperation Association (SCCA). Farmers and marketing/processing enterprises working together are the drivers of the agricultural sector – the role of SFA is to enhance farmers’ income through improving the linkages between farmers and these market entities.

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Federated Farmers Incorporated (FFI)

Contact: Tel: +685 7607897.  Apia, Samoa. Facebook  page.

Funded in 2015, Overall objective is to promote and enhance sustainable agricultural development for food security and meeting market opportunities and requirements.




Savaii Farmers association - Sosaiete Aufaifa’atoaga Savai’i (S.A.S.)
The farmers in Savai’i have stepped up to establish a new group for farmers on the big island called the Sosaiete Aufaifa’atoaga Savai’i (S.A.S.). More than fifty farmers in livestock, fisheries and the taro industry have signed up with the Society established in Salelologa Savai’i in June this year. 
Members from S.A.S. took the ferry to Apia yesterday to have their first official meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao. The Associate Minister of Agriculture, Fa’aso’otauloa Pati Taulapapa was also present. President of S.A.S. is in 2017 Papali’itele Siaosi Hansell.


Savaii coconut growers association.

The Savai’i Coconut Farmers Association (SCFA) was created in 2009 and now has 121 coconut farmers members. 

SCFA is the first Samoan farming organisation to receive the Fairtrade Certification in 2013. This young organization with a small membership meets with Fairtrade Standards of social and environmental performance, as well as business accountability and transparency. The Savaii Coconut Farmers Association worked towards its certification for less than a year, and it reached this milestone in early September 2014. As the most widely recognized ethical label in the world, the Mark allows consumers to identify products that have been produced and traded under international standards for sustainable production and equal trade; and also enables growers to improve the visibility of their commodities on supermarket shelves.
Ms Perise Mulifusi
Fairtrade ensures that farmers within the system receive a price which covers the cost of sustainable production, known as the Fairtrade Minimum Price, and the additional Fairtrade Premium Price, which producer organizations can invest democratically on community projects to enhance social, economic and environmental development within their communities. Supported by its local buyer Krissy Co, the kiwi ice cream company Nice Blocks and Fairtrade ANZ, the organization aims to contribute to the recovery of the coconut cream industry in Samoa, which has declined by 50% in the last 10 years.

Damian Buckley
SCFA was awarded with a WST 16,000 grant from Fairtrade ANZ’s Producer Development Fund in early 2015. The replanting project aimed to assist and plan for all members of SCFA to plant at least 50 coconut trees during the months of August and September 2017. The new tool kits (machetes, sharpening file, spade) were used to prepare the land for the planting. The seedlings are sourced from the farmers’ own gardens to begin with. Many of the coconut trees on the island of Savai’i are between 50 to 60 years old, resulting in lower productivity. However, when farmers see the value of coconut farming and the potential for a sustainable income through the Fairtrade minimum price, this allows them to stay and invest in their land.
To know more please contact the Secretary of the association Ms Perise Mulifusi, +685 7770432,  Perisemulifusi@gmail.com or Damian Buckley, VSA volunteer, +685 7719830, damianb@xtra.co.nz

Dr Roland Bourdeix visited in Savai'i several farms involved in this association and the replanting programme on 21, November 2018.