Food self-sufficiency in Micronesia: Effects of a nutrition assistance programme on agricultural production

Abstract

Food assistance programmes in Micronesia have been blamed for creating disincentives to agriculture and nutritionally adverse dietary habits. In 1982 a USDA commodity programme in the Northern Mariana Islands was replaced by the Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP), which required that at least 25% of food coupons be used for the purchase of local foods. There were significant increases in production of fish, bread and eggs following implementation of the NAP, but little evidence of any stimulation of production of fruit, vegetables, staples, milk, pork or beef. A farmers survey indicated that frequent typhoons, lack of farm services and inadequate marketing have hindered development of the agricultural sector. Thus the impact of incentives to increase demand for local foods will be limited unless sufficient attention is also given to increasing the supply.