Together with the Mariana archipelagc, the Carolines, thes@
form the Trust
Territory of the Pacific Islands,
administered by the United|States for the
United Nations since World War II.
This area is generally knownJas Micronesia--
the name suggesting the tiny size of the islands.
Of the 21240 islands in
Micronesia, only 125 are inhabited.
There are two different types of islands in the Pacific,
the coral.
dhe volcanic and
The Marshall Islands are all coral with a very low a¥erage elevation
from the water.
In most cases the average altitude is about 5
atolls are like necklaces in the vast ocean with a lagoon in the
cases, the average width of the island is approximately one city
Peoples
of
the
nutrition and health.
world
are
always
concerned
about
food
feet.
All these
middle.
In many
block.
Jproduction
and
Different types of islands present differ@nt problems and
opportunities for agriculture and food production in general
The Marshal]
Isiands, being all coral atolls, present special kinds of proplems for local
agriculture and food production.
The soil is composed mostly of
Foral sand which
is highly alkaline and consequently, unless a great amount
incorporated in the soil or unless fertile soil is imported from
types of plants that can be grown are very limited.
elsewhere, the
The basic fo@d supplies that
are locally grown are coconuts, breadfruit, pandanas fruit, taro]
(in the northern islands).
humus can be
and arrow root
Therefore, a great majority of thef food supply is
imported in the form of canned goods and other staples such a§— rice and some
flour.
B.
Demography and Population
Figures are very difficult to obtain in the Marshall Islahds.
Statistics
are something new and alien to the Marshallese ways of dealing wqth each other in
their
societal
processes.
However,
there are several
factd@rs
that can
be
discussed with certainty:
1.
The official
population census of 1973,
as quote
in the Health
Contract between the S.D.A. Church and the government of the
Marshall Islands,
was 24,135.
qount in 1980 is
However, all government officials believe the
around 30,000.
A census is being conducted in the islands during 1980.
The
results are not known yet and probably will not be for some timp.
2.
The population is a young population.
the population is 20 years of age or younger.
It is estimated that half of