A comparative review of three farm management support organisations in the South Pacific

This paper compares three approaches which have been used for providing farm management advice to co-operatives and farming groups in the Solomon Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu. Whilst each support organisation pursues similar objectives in terms of facilitating agricultural development and promoting human resource development, different priorities have been attached to realising them.

As a result there are operational differences between the three. These variations have resulted in structures and styles which have proved effective for meeting the immediate tasks facing each organisation. With regard to longer-term contributions, and particularly human resource development, three conditions are identified which could enable support organisations to realise their potential.