title: Smallholder sugarcane growers, indigenous technical knowledge, and the sugar industry crisis in Fiji

authors: Dean, Mohseen Riaz Ud

subjects: Smallholder

abstract: This is a cross-disciplinary study that draws upon the agronomic, ecological, and social sciences to analyse the current crisis facing the sugar industry in Fiji. Its particular focus is the livelihood crisis facing the smallholder sugarcane growers, and it explores the potential of their local and traditional farming knowledge as a source of solutions for both crises. It argues, however, that present proposals for reforming the sugar industry in Fiji are wedded to the industrial agricultural paradigm and a globalized corporate food regime that is the source of the problems it currently faces and which threatens the future of the smallholder sugarcane farming system along with its local traditional knowledge. The thesis draws inspiration from Agroecology as an agricultural paradigm alternative to the conventional industrial paradigm to advocate for greater attention to be given to smallholder sugarcane growers and their local and traditional farming knowledge in seeking solutions to the crisis of the sugar industry in Fiji.

To explore these complex issues, the thesis adopts a cross-disciplinary, mixed-method approach. Participant observation, focus group discussions, and informal interviews with smallholder sugarcane farmers were used to elicit their views, feeling, thoughts and opinions on the Fiji sugar industry, their relationships with other sugar industry actors, and their own indigenous technical knowledge. Livelihood survey methods and agroecosystem analysis were used to gather quantitative data on household and farm status. This information was analysed using IBM® Social Science software: Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft® Office Excel Spreadsheet, to provide an up-to-date profile of livelihood and farming situation of smallholder sugarcane growers. Semi-structured interviews with industry stakeholders were used to identify the agricultural problems and socio-economic issues facing the industry and their differing views on the solutions proposed to solve them. Archival material was used to obtain information on past efforts of the sugar industry to develop solutions to problems at the local, national and international levels, and existing academic literature was reviewed for additional information on the contemporary situation of the smallholder sugarcane growers and the Fiji sugar industry as a whole.

text: Smallholder sugarcane growers, indigenous technical knowledge, and the sugar industry crisis in Fiji This is a cross-disciplinary study that draws upon the agronomic, ecological, and social sciences to analyse the current crisis facing the sugar industry in Fiji. Its particular focus is the livelihood crisis facing the smallholder sugarcane growers, and it explores the potential of their local and traditional farming knowledge as a source of solutions for both crises. It argues, however, that present proposals for reforming the sugar industry in Fiji are wedded to the industrial agricultural paradigm and a globalized corporate food regime that is the source of the problems it currently faces and which threatens the future of the smallholder sugarcane farming system along with its local traditional knowledge. The thesis draws inspiration from Agroecology as an agricultural paradigm alternative to the conventional industrial paradigm to advocate for greater attention to be given to smallholder sugarcane growers and their local and traditional farming knowledge in seeking solutions to the crisis of the sugar industry in Fiji.

To explore these complex issues, the thesis adopts a cross-disciplinary, mixed-method approach. Participant observation, focus group discussions, and informal interviews with smallholder sugarcane farmers were used to elicit their views, feeling, thoughts and opinions on the Fiji sugar industry, their relationships with other sugar industry actors, and their own indigenous technical knowledge. Livelihood survey methods and agroecosystem analysis were used to gather quantitative data on household and farm status. This information was analysed using IBM® Social Science software: Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft® Office Excel Spreadsheet, to provide an up-to-date profile of livelihood and farming situation of smallholder sugarcane growers. Semi-structured interviews with industry stakeholders were used to identify the agricultural problems and socio-economic issues facing the industry and their differing views on the solutions proposed to solve them. Archival material was used to obtain information on past efforts of the sugar industry to develop solutions to problems at the local, national and international levels, and existing academic literature was reviewed for additional information on the contemporary situation of the smallholder sugarcane growers and the Fiji sugar industry as a whole.

year: 2019

title: A Village in my Hand

authors: Russell, Phillippa Jane

subjects: Samoa

abstract: Since its arrival, the cell phone has been transforming culture and the ways in which we live, exist and interact with life. With minimal access to telecommunications, since 2006 it has become ubiquitous in Samoa. 
Using observation and semi-structured interviews based within two villages in rural Samoa, this thesis has explored the influence of the cell phone upon Samoan daily lives. It investigates how it came to be in Samoa, what perceptions surround the cell phone and how it is seen to have contributed and influenced daily activities, culture and customs of villagers.
Similar to research and literature into mobile telephony on other cultures, affordances provided through the cell phone such as micro coordination and increased connectedness are also being experienced in Samoa, reducing time and space and facilitating activities that required a fair amount of coordination into activities of micro-coordination, also creating greater access to economic opportunities, such as work and the possibility of entrepreneurship. Nonetheless it appears influences such as locality and social status seem to affect the degree of   use for Samoans.  
The ability to have greater privacy provided by the cell phone in combination with being able to be perpetually in contact with others across time and space predominantly through communicative methods like SMS or texting seem to be challenging traditional expectations surrounding authority especially around familial relationships. What looks to be the difference between similar experiences in other cultures is the speed to which this technological affordance has been integrated within rural Samoa which had no previous telecommunication availability prior to 2006.  This combined with the absolute social and customary expectations placed on the values of obedience, respect, love, selfless service and Christianity appears to be accentuating the ‘loss of parental control’. 
Traditional  customs such as gift giving have been adapted by the service provider and  transferred into the use and practice surrounding the cell phone into daily activity and use by Samoans resulting predominately in the transference of money but does also include the gifting of cell phones. 
Crossing multiple disciplines this thesis explores a number of topics surrounding the cell phone and highlights the need for   further research establishing a primary base from which to build upon.

text: A Village in my Hand Since its arrival, the cell phone has been transforming culture and the ways in which we live, exist and interact with life. With minimal access to telecommunications, since 2006 it has become ubiquitous in Samoa. 
Using observation and semi-structured interviews based within two villages in rural Samoa, this thesis has explored the influence of the cell phone upon Samoan daily lives. It investigates how it came to be in Samoa, what perceptions surround the cell phone and how it is seen to have contributed and influenced daily activities, culture and customs of villagers.
Similar to research and literature into mobile telephony on other cultures, affordances provided through the cell phone such as micro coordination and increased connectedness are also being experienced in Samoa, reducing time and space and facilitating activities that required a fair amount of coordination into activities of micro-coordination, also creating greater access to economic opportunities, such as work and the possibility of entrepreneurship. Nonetheless it appears influences such as locality and social status seem to affect the degree of   use for Samoans.  
The ability to have greater privacy provided by the cell phone in combination with being able to be perpetually in contact with others across time and space predominantly through communicative methods like SMS or texting seem to be challenging traditional expectations surrounding authority especially around familial relationships. What looks to be the difference between similar experiences in other cultures is the speed to which this technological affordance has been integrated within rural Samoa which had no previous telecommunication availability prior to 2006.  This combined with the absolute social and customary expectations placed on the values of obedience, respect, love, selfless service and Christianity appears to be accentuating the ‘loss of parental control’. 
Traditional  customs such as gift giving have been adapted by the service provider and  transferred into the use and practice surrounding the cell phone into daily activity and use by Samoans resulting predominately in the transference of money but does also include the gifting of cell phones. 
Crossing multiple disciplines this thesis explores a number of topics surrounding the cell phone and highlights the need for   further research establishing a primary base from which to build upon.

year: 2013

title: Kaumātua mana motuhake: Kaumātua managing life-transitions through tuakana-teina/peer-education

authors: Hokowhitu, Brendan

abstract: People face signifi cant transition points as they age, such as loss of independent living, loss of a spouse and changing health conditions. Successfully navigating these transitions depends on being able to manage emotional and socio-economic factors, as well as service systems, while often being reliant on family or whānau. Historically however, kaumātua have faced a dominant society that has failed to realise their full potential as they age. Yet, for Māori, kaumātua are “carriers of culture, anchors for families, models for lifestyle, bridges to the future, guardians of heritage and role models for younger generations.” Kaumātua mana motuhake is invested in upholding kaumātua tino rangatiratanga (independence and autonomy) via high-quality Māori research that will lead to better life outcomes for kaumātua and their whā nau.

text: Kaumātua mana motuhake: Kaumātua managing life-transitions through tuakana-teina/peer-education People face signifi cant transition points as they age, such as loss of independent living, loss of a spouse and changing health conditions. Successfully navigating these transitions depends on being able to manage emotional and socio-economic factors, as well as service systems, while often being reliant on family or whānau. Historically however, kaumātua have faced a dominant society that has failed to realise their full potential as they age. Yet, for Māori, kaumātua are “carriers of culture, anchors for families, models for lifestyle, bridges to the future, guardians of heritage and role models for younger generations.” Kaumātua mana motuhake is invested in upholding kaumātua tino rangatiratanga (independence and autonomy) via high-quality Māori research that will lead to better life outcomes for kaumātua and their whā nau.

year: 2017