The Republic of Kiribati is a small, highly infertile Pacific Island nation and is
one of the most challenging locations to attempt to support dense urban
populations. Kiribati like other nations in the Pacific faces an urban future
where food insecurity, unemployment, waste management and malnutrition will
become increasing issues. Homegardening is suggested as one way to address
many of these problems. However, the most recent study on agriculture
production in urban centres in Kiribati shows that, in general, intensive
cultivation of homegardens is not a common practice. This disparity between
theory and practice creates an opportunity to re-examine homegardening in
Kiribati and, more broadly in the Pacific.
This paper examines the practice of homegardening in urban centres in Kiribati
and explores reasons why change has or has not occurred through interviews
with homegardeners and government/donor representatives. Results show that
homegardening has increased significantly in the past five years, largely due to
the promotion of homegardens and organic composting systems by donor
organisations. While findings further endorse homegardening as an excellent
theoretical solution to many of the problems that confront urban settlements in
Kiribati and the Pacific it raises additional questions regarding the continuation
of homegarden schemes beyond donor support programs.