Samoa

Samoa is an island state in the South Pacific composed of two main islands, Upolu and Savai‘i, along with several smaller ones, covering a total land area of about 2,830 km². The islands are of volcanic origin, with rugged interiors, fertile coastal plains and extensive tropical vegetation. The climate is tropical maritime, characterised by consistently warm temperatures and annual rainfall typically exceeding 3,000 mm, which supports lush plant growth but also exposes the country to cyclones and seasonal weather variability.

Human settlement dates back over 3,000 years, with traditional systems of subsistence agriculture and fishing forming the basis of land use. Samoa later came under German and then New Zealand administration before achieving independence in 1962, becoming one of the first Pacific island states to do so. Despite the growth of remittances and services, the primary sector remains important for rural livelihoods.

Agriculture contributes roughly 8–10% of GDP and employs a significant share of the population, largely in subsistence and semi-commercial production. About 12–15% of the land area is used for agriculture, although only a small proportion is intensively cultivated. Coconut palms dominate the rural landscape and support copra production, which typically ranges between 20,000 and 40,000 tonnes annually depending on climatic conditions. Other key crops include taro, bananas, cocoa and breadfruit. Cocoa production generally amounts to around 4,000–6,000 tonnes per year, while root crops such as taro are essential for domestic food supply. Livestock farming is small in scale and consists mainly of pigs and poultry.

Forests cover approximately 60–65% of Samoa’s land area, reflecting the persistence of tropical rainforest on the mountainous interiors. Timber extraction occurs on a limited scale, mainly for domestic use, and annual log production is relatively modest, typically below 100,000 cubic metres. Forests also play a critical role in watershed protection and biodiversity conservation.

Marine resources are an important component of the primary sector. Samoa’s Exclusive Economic Zone covers about 120,000 km², supporting both coastal and offshore fisheries. Total fish production is generally estimated at around 20,000–30,000 tonnes annually, combining subsistence reef fishing and commercial offshore tuna catches. Fisheries are vital for food security as well as for export earnings.

Aquaculture is still developing but includes small-scale cultivation of species such as tilapia and giant clams. Overall, Samoa’s primary sector reflects the environmental conditions of a volcanic island landscape, with agriculture concentrated in coastal areas, forests providing ecological services, and fisheries contributing significantly to livelihoods and national income.

In 2001 Gerold, Klaudia and their children Ayla and Kim visited Heiko Bammann on Samoa, were he was based as FAO officer. They spent  four weeks on the two main islands.