The american samoa community college division of agriculture, community and natural resources (ascc acnr) will continue to implement its planned programs addressing the critical issues described in…

The american samoa community college division of agriculture, community and natural resources (ascc acnr) will continue to implement its planned programs addressing the critical issues described in the 2025 nifa plan of work: agricultural sustainability and food security, ecosystem, family and community resiliency, health and wellness, and youth development. Extension activities to address the planned programs in 2025 include taro crop improvement through conventional breeding. Ascc acnr will continue with the taro breeding program, with subsequent field propagation and micropropagation to develop and multiply new taro varieties that will be evaluated for disease resistance, yield and eating quality. Ascc acnr extension staff will continue with vegetable crops variety field trials and demonstration plots to identify and promote the types of vegetables and the varieties that will grow well in american samoa. Agriculture extension agents will continue to provide seeds and seedlings to the farmers, schools, and 4-H clubs for vegetable gardening. Agriculture extension agents will continue to conduct follow-up visits to farmers, schools, and vegetable producers. Moreover, the extension office will continue to sell seeds of recommended vegetable varieties at an affordable price to the public to encourage vegetable farming. Ascc acnr 4-H staff will continue to conduct 4-H youth development program workshops and community outreach presentations to youth in the youth at risk areas at schools, churches, and village clubs. The 4-H program will continue to host field trips and tours for youth to learn and experience the different extension and research programs, demonstrations, and field plots at acnr compound. Ascc acnr family and consumer science (FCS) staff will continue to conduct basic sewing workshops to homemakers and interested clients. Participants will be able to tailor and SEW their own clothes. All participants in the sewing programs will acquire knowledge and developed skills in sewing and resource management. Participants will also save money by sewing for their families. Participants will also be trained to start their own small sewing businesses. Ascc acnr extension staff will continue to conduct farm safety & pesticide safety training programs to teach community residents on how to safely handle pesticides. Staff will CON tinue to conduct farm safety workshops to educate children about safety issues in and around farms and homes. Extension educators will continue to conduct workshops in nutrition and healthy living in the schools and the community to promote physical activity/exercise, nutrition, health and well-being. Ascc acnr agriculture extension agents will continue to conduct workshops and distribute piglets from the artificial insemination (AI) project to farmers. The program staff will continue to conduct demonstrations to PIG farmers on the use of the asepa recommended waste management systems. The use of AI animals will improve production in many PIG farms in by reducing the inbreeding problem. Adoption of the recommended waste management systems by PIG farmers will result in a safer environment by using the PIG manure in composting as an alternative source of fertilizer, and eventually reducing the negative impacts of PIG waste on the drinking water, streams, coral reefs and marine life. Ascc acnr forestry program will continue to assist schools, landowners, churches, and village communities in planting native trees in urban areas, especially along the coasts or areas in need of shade and soil erosion control. Native seedlings and saplings will be distributed to greenhouse clients, landowners, students, and more. This effort will help promote native species and good forest stewardship practices. In addition, IT will protect and conserve our forests and natural resources from environmental degradation and issues such as climate change, deforestation, and more.