Country Report – The Republic of Kiibat
By Mr Kamaua Bareua
Tourism and Hospitality Management Couse
At the National Institute of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises
HYDERABAD – INDIA
BACKGRUND IN GENERAL:
Kiribati is a small Pacific nation with a total population of around 90,000 (2005
Census). The country consists of 33 atolls and reef islands, of which twenty-one
are permanently inhabited, spread across an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 3.5 million sq.km, the largest in the Pacific. Being coral atolls and reef islands
the soil is generally very poor and infertile making agriculture difficult. The
total land area is only 726 sq. km., of which over half (388 sq km) is on
Kiritimati (Christmas Island) situated some 1200 km south of Hawai’i and over
2,000 km. to the east of the capital on Tarawa.
The main subsistence tree-crops are coconuts and toddy, breadfruit, pandanus
and bananas. In many islands the giant swamp taro, locally known as Babai is
grown in large man-made pits that need to be carefully tended and mulched.
Pumpkin, sweet potato and other hardy ground crops can also be grown. Small
livestock, chickens and pigs are also kept as a source of food. There is little
potential for any large scale agriculture. The marine environment of the islands
provides the primary source of protein in reef and ocean fish, as well as shell
fish and other crustaceans found on the reef flats. The atoll lagoons have
provided opportunities for small businesses in harvesting aquarium fish, and
there have been projects for seeding giant clams and the production of seaweed
for the pharmaceutical industry. These ventures have had varying degrees of
success being impacted by difficulties of transport, storm damage, lack of skills and training and general sustainability.
The climate is tropical with a highly saline atmosphere from the close proximity of the lagoon ocean close by on either side... [continues]
By Mr Kamaua Bareua
Tourism and Hospitality Management Couse
At the National Institute of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises
HYDERABAD – INDIA
BACKGRUND IN GENERAL:
Kiribati is a small Pacific nation with a total population of around 90,000 (2005
Census). The country consists of 33 atolls and reef islands, of which twenty-one
are permanently inhabited, spread across an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 3.5 million sq.km, the largest in the Pacific. Being coral atolls and reef islands
the soil is generally very poor and infertile making agriculture difficult. The
total land area is only 726 sq. km., of which over half (388 sq km) is on
Kiritimati (Christmas Island) situated some 1200 km south of Hawai’i and over
2,000 km. to the east of the capital on Tarawa.
The main subsistence tree-crops are coconuts and toddy, breadfruit, pandanus
and bananas. In many islands the giant swamp taro, locally known as Babai is
grown in large man-made pits that need to be carefully tended and mulched.
Pumpkin, sweet potato and other hardy ground crops can also be grown. Small
livestock, chickens and pigs are also kept as a source of food. There is little
potential for any large scale agriculture. The marine environment of the islands
provides the primary source of protein in reef and ocean fish, as well as shell
fish and other crustaceans found on the reef flats. The atoll lagoons have
provided opportunities for small businesses in harvesting aquarium fish, and
there have been projects for seeding giant clams and the production of seaweed
for the pharmaceutical industry. These ventures have had varying degrees of
success being impacted by difficulties of transport, storm damage, lack of skills and training and general sustainability.
The climate is tropical with a highly saline atmosphere from the close proximity of the lagoon ocean close by on either side... [continues]
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