Conservation Practices for Small-Scale Hawaiian Farms

Abstract

The purpose of this handbook is to provide small-scale farmers on the Hawaiian Islands with the information necessary to implement effective soil management practices on their farms, with specific focus on soil and water conservation. Small-scale farms are becoming more common in Hawai'i as plantation agriculture involving sugarcane and pineapple has diminished, diversified agriculture has gained a firm foothold, and markets for fresh, local produce have expanded. Small-scale farmers are producing food to feed their families, to meet the increasing demand for locally and sustainably grown agricultural products, and to move the Islands, which import between 60-70% of fresh fruits and vegetables alone, toward food self-sufficiency.