16 140 Joe Lendvai R1 This Precious Land 24fps HD H264

This Precious Land is a documentary film I shot with a Bolex 16mm camera on Ponape island in Micronesia back in 1969. It was part of my Peace Corps Volunteer agriculture extension work with local farmers. We helped with planting coconut seedlings, cacao trees, pepper plants and in starting community gardens. The overall goal was to help improve the local diet and expand the export of copra, their only cash crop at the time. The work was coordinated by the Kolonia, Ponape Agriculture Station, part of the Agriculture Department of the then Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Today Kolonia is the capitol of the Federated States of Micronesia. The United Sates continues to provide financial support to this island nation.