City Council considers reviving its agricultural development task force – Hawaiipublicradio
City Council considers reviving its agricultural development task force Hawaiipublicradio
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Reviving the Agricultural Development Task Force in Oʻahu
The Agricultural Development Task Force on Oʻahu, which has been inactive since 2019, is being considered for revival by several lawmakers. The task force, initially established in 2005, aims to support agriculture on the island and address various issues related to farming and food production. This report highlights the significance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the context of the task force’s potential revival.
Background
The Agricultural Development Task Force, consisting of nine members representing agriculture stakeholders and practitioners, would play a crucial role in recommending policies related to zoning, land use, infrastructure, and other factors affecting farming and food production on Oʻahu. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2022 census, Oʻahu is home to approximately 1,000 farms and 60,000 acres of farmland.
Importance of the Task Force
Advocates of the task force emphasize its role in giving farmers a voice in city decisions. They believe that the task force would have been instrumental in providing valuable guidance during the overhaul of the city’s Land Use Ordinances via Bill 64. Taylor Campbell, a farmer and board member for the Waimanalo Agriculture Association, stated that the task force’s existence prior to Bill 64 would have allowed for valuable insights from a farmer’s perspective.
One of the key challenges faced by farmers on the island is the competing uses for land, leading to misuse of agricultural lands for unpermitted activities. The task force would address these issues and work towards preserving agricultural lands.
Frederick Mencher, president of the East Oʻahu County Farm Bureau, also supports reviving the task force. He emphasizes the need for direct communication between the City Council, county administration, and Oʻahu’s farmers and ranchers. Mencher suggests that a majority of the task force should comprise active farmers and ranchers to discuss important topics such as the cost and availability of water, including infrastructure requirements like water meters, piping, irrigation systems, and wells.
Reporting and Recommendations
If the task force is reconvened, it would be required to report its findings and recommendations to the council, mayor, and other city administration leaders within a year of the resolution’s adoption. This ensures that the task force’s work is transparent and its recommendations are considered for implementation.
Councilmember Esther Kiaʻāina, who co-introduced the measure with councilmember Andria Tupola, plans to amend the resolution based on input from the local agriculture community. She acknowledges the need to specify the term lengths for task force members and the desired levels of expertise.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 15: Life on Land
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.
- SDG 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
- SDG 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator for SDG 2.3: Agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers
- Indicator for SDG 11.3: Capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management
- Indicator for SDG 15.3: Land degradation and restoration
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | SDG 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment. | Agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | SDG 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries. | Capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | SDG 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. | Land degradation and restoration |
Source: hawaiipublicradio.org
