Programme To Assess Food Security Response In Fiji
The World Food Programme and the University of the South Pacific have joined forces to boost market monitoring capacities in respect to food securities in Fiji and Samoa.
During the launch of the Critical Markets Assessments by the Ministry of Agriculture, the partners said they looked forward to the fruition of this collaboration.
Added to that were the outcomes of the work to better prepare for the impacts of climate change to our critical markets and farmers. Partners include UN Agencies and World Food Programme.
The launch was made at the Japan ICT at the University of the South Pacific yesterday.
Ben Chand is the Head of Human Resources Development and Services at the Ministry of Agriculture. “Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture plays a pivotal role in responding to challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and other threats,” Mr Chand said.
“The ministry through the assistance of the Government has continued to work with its stakeholders to provide immediate assistance and long-term agriculture inputs to farmers.”
“To co-ordinate this assistance effectively, the Ministry considers findings from 2020 Fiji Agriculture Census and engagement with stakeholders such as WFP, to better improve its services.
A survey with the Ministry of Agriculture through the Food Security and Livelihood Cluster was the resulted in seedling distribution to communities during second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.
He said it is these types of surveys and the one launched would bring about change and more proactive measures by governments and its international partners.
Collaboration Outcome
Viliamu Iese is the University of the South Pacific’s Senior Lecturer on Climate Change, Food Security, Disaster Risk Management.
He said the collaboration was crucial to:
– Understand the availability, prices, and diversity of foods in markets including central roadside markets and supermarkets in Fiji and Samoa, throughout the cycle of disasters and different economic, health and geological shocks.
Mr Iese said the research will also help to determine the minimum expenditure basket for food and nonfood items of households in Fiji and Samoa.
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