Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profiles

Marshall Islands

by

Eroarome Martin Aregheore

1. Introduction
2. Climate and Agro-ecological Zones
3. Soils and Topography
4. Ruminant Livestock Production Systems
5. Constraints to Development of Pasture Based Livestock Systems
6. Pasture Resources
7. Research and Development Organizations and Personnel
8. References
9. Contacts

The climatic conditions are similar to those in other islands of Micronesia, except that the northern Marshalls have rainfall as low as 152 mm while the southern parts has a high 4,000 mm per annum. Several of the northern islands are uninhabited due to lack of rain. The rainfall is seasonal, December to March being the drier months; and May to August the wetter months. Rainfall in any one atoll varies greatly from year to year. Due to the porosity of the soil, the rainwater soon disappears from the soil surface.

Coral atolls which receive less than 1,000 mm of annual rainfall have very limited possibilities because of a long dry season. However, those with rainfall range between 1,000 – 2,500 mm are more favourably disposed for cropping but are limited in fresh water ground supply. The lagoon strand bears coconut and pandanus trees. The interior, often covered with dense jungle-like growth, is usually planted with breadfruit trees as well as hardy beach shrubs that are exposed to salty spray from the ocean surf.

Sandy soils of low fertility and the topography are typical of most of the atolls. The poor atolls support only a limited range of plants and the growth of vegetation is hampered also by salt spray water which sweeps over the islands during the season of the northeast trades, killing or seriously inhibiting plant growth. Soils on coral islands or atolls are poor, requiring much persistence for production of even basic crops. Since they are either atolls or raised coral Islands, elevation is slight. Highest point in the entire group is Likiep, 10 metres above sea level. The lagoon reef offers a great variety of marine life.

Figure 1. Map of Marshall Islands
Source:The World Factbook

At Kwajalein Atoll, the largest in Marshall Islands, there are 93 separate, named islets on the encircling reef. These range from little more than sandbars, with only token plant growth to Kwajalein Island that is 3.036 square kilometres.

Due to the nature of the soil and its vegetation, ruminant livestock production based on pasture is very limited. The subsistence system of production is practiced in Marshall Islands. In past years a few goats were kept, tethered during the day under coconut plantations that have little undergrowth. Presently there are no cattle or goats and the main livestock kept are pigs (approx. 15,000) and chickens (90,000); numbers given are for 1999.

Table 1 presents some statistics for livestock numbers and beef imports for the Marshall Islands for the period 1996-2006 (for which there is little available data)!

The poor atoll soils that prevail support only a limited range of plants and the growth of vegetation is hampered also by saltwater spray which sweeps over the islands during the season of the north-east trades, killing or seriously inhibiting plant growth. By atoll standards the vegetation of the Marshall Islands is poor.

Table 1. Marshall Islands statistics of livestock numbers and beef and veal imports
for the period of 1996-2006.

n.r. = no record
* in addition quantities of sheep meat, pig meat, chicken meat (2005-730 mt), eggs (2005-160 mt) and fresh (2005-80 mt) and dried milk are imported
No data for 2007 and 2008
Sources: FAO Yearbook, Production Vol. 52, 1998
FAO Quarterly Bulletin of Statistics Vol. 12, 1999
FAO Yearbook Trade Vol. 52 1998
Source:FAOstat

Several factors affect the development of pasture based livestock in Marshall Islands, and these are:-

No information