Fiji will continue to work closely with the International Fund for Agricultural Devel­opment (IFAD) in pursuit of their common goal to eradicate poverty and hunger in the rural areas of developing countries.

This commitment was made today on behalf of the Fijian Govern­ment by Fiji’s Ambassador to the European Union and Permanent Representative to IFAD, Ambassa­dor Deo Saran at the 42nd Session of the IFAD Governing Council.

Established in 1977, IFAD aims to empower men and women in rural communities of developing coun­tries to achieve higher incomes and improved living.

The organisation’s Governing Council consists of all IFAD mem­ber states and is the main decision making body that meets annually.

While delivering Fiji’s country statement at the Council, Ambassa­dor Saran spoke on the importance of the agriculture sector to the Fi­jian economy and its rural liveli­hood, and the work undertaken by the Fijian Government in collabo­ration with IFAD to develop a sus­tainable agricultural sector in the rural areas”

Mr Saran said the Government had increased investment in rural infrastructure, which has benefited about 44 per cent of Fiji’s popula­tion which reside in the rural and outer islands.

“Agriculture is central to Fiji’s economic development agenda.

“Over the years there have been some positive progress experienced in the Sector as a result of new initiatives undertaken by the gov­ernment and continuous interven­tions from our global partners such as the European Union, FAO, and IFAD etc.”

The event was also an opportunity for Ambassador Saran to pledge Fiji’s financial contribution of US$100,000 (about F$212,818) to the IFAD to carry out its work in ad­dressing the problems of rural pov­erty for Fiji and other Pacific Island nations.

Source: DEPTFO News