The direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic over the last few years and the food supply chain disruptions due to the war in Ukraine, has set countries back many years from achieving its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's).

These were the remarks by the Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Waterways, Dr. Andrew Tukana at the Project Inception and Inaugural Project Steering Committee Meeting for "Sustainable Transformation of Domestic Agrifood Systems in Fiji, Samoa, and Solomon Islands" (STODAS) which is being held at the Holiday Inn in Suva.

“The increase in prices of food, feed, fuel, and fertilizer and difficult access to finance – collectively known as the 5F crisis is seriously affecting the national and individual capacities to cope not only in Fiji but for most of our Pacific Island Countries.”

He added that in response to this food crises, European Union (EU) has formulated this project with three focused outputs in the area of strengthening policy and institutional environment, strengthened sustainable and community-based production systems and strengthened capacities for sustainable agrifood systems.

“The project will contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the Pacific Islands 2023-2027 and FAO Multi-Country Programming Framework for the Pacific Islands. It aims to build domestic food production and consumption systems in the countries in the Pacific region to make them sustainably less import-dependent and able to cope with the ongoing 5F crisis that were are currently facing.”

Dr Tukana added that agriculture in Fiji is one of the major contributors to the economic wellbeing and sustenance of food and nutrition security for all Fijians and around 92,000 farmers work hard to toil the land and raise livestock to ensure food is readily available for our people and all visitors visiting our shores.

“Recent events and climate change impacts is making it difficult for our farmers to continue cultivating their land. Adverse weather conditions coupled with degrading soil fertility and rising agro-input costs will make agriculture a more challenging sector in the near future.”

The Government of Fiji through the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways has developed a 10 year strategic plan to address challenges in its agrifood systems, the strategic areas in the plan are, development and adoption of climate smart agriculture, diversification of crops and livestock, capacity building and education, policy support as well as collaborations and partnerships.

Dr Tukana added that by focusing on these key areas and implementing integrated strategies, Fiji can work towards building more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agrifood systems that benefit both the environment and its people.

“The Sustainable Transformation of Domestic Agrifood Systems Project has come at the right time to address challenges currently faced by Fijian farmers. This project will assist in addressing some of the strategic priority goals identified in Ministry’s Strategic Development Plan. We, therefore provide full support to the project and look forward to its successful implementation,” stressed Dr. Tukana.

The two days meeting is attended by the Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Samoa, Solomon Islands Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock, representatives of the European Union, representatives of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation and senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways.

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