The Agricultural Potential of the Middle Kuskokwim Valley

Abstract

Alaskans are concerned with the production of food . This is evident from the concern which has been expressed over the subsistence issue within the current Alaska lands legislation. The debate ponders who shall harvest the state's natural game resource and how the resource shall be harvested. Although this question is not settled , one point is coming to the fore: the game resource alone is not sufficient to satisfy the food needs of Alaska's growing rural population. In recent months, interest has been expressed in the agricultural potential of the lands in areas of Alaska which are removed from major population centers and from connecting surface transportation routes. One area in particular in southwestern Alaska has made significant progress in agricultural development. The Kuskokwim Native Association has maintained a community garden since 1976 in Aniak on the Kuskokwim River (Figure 1) (Lewis, Thomas, and Wooding, 1978). This effort could be expanded using existing transportation corridors to supply not only the Kuskokwim River valley, but also several villages located away from the river. The objective of this study is to provide an economic evaluation of the feasibility of producing and marketing vegetables in the Kuskokwim River valley area. Major considerations were the availability of markets, transportation, and a method of product distribution. All were based on production capability of the area and the capacity and time factors pertaining to vegetable storage.