Contact: Derrick Crawford
Phone: (808) 600-2911


HONOLULU, HI, Jan. 29 – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Conservation At Work video series showcases two local Maui farmers for their conservation efforts with the USDA’S Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of the Pacific Islands Area.

The three 90-second videos, posted on farmers.gov, feature Evan Ryan, founder of Pono Grown Farm Center in Makawao, Maui, and Bobby Pahia, owner of Hawaii Taro Farm, located in Waikapu, Maui.

Ryan talks about improvements on his 2-acre forest farm of perennial fruit trees and shows his tiered vegetable gardens surrounded by healthy vetiver grass that prevent soil erosion. Pahia explains how herbaceous vegetation protects his field of taro by acting as a wind barrier to reduce wind speed and wind erosion.

They are joined on camera by Maui resident and Soil Conservationist Jason Hew, of NRCS PIA’s Kahului Service Center, who helped Ryan and Pahia implement conservation practices through NRCS programs. Hew describes the benefits of those conservation practices and how they directly impact and protect the land.

NRCS is encouraging agricultural producers and forest landowners to participate in voluntary conservation programs and adopt climate-smart practices in fiscal year 2024. NRCS is accepting applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). Contact your nearest NRCS Service Center for more information.

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