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assistance: FAO
ALOFI, Niue ------ In the face of a serious economic and financial crisis that is
compromising the world’s food insecurity, Jacques Diouf, director-general of FAO, today
appealed on the Pacific Island Forum countries to improve food security and income
earning opportunities.
Dr Diouf was speaking at the opening session of the 8th Meeting of the FAO South West
Pacific Minister of Agriculture, hosted by Niue from 20 to 22 May in Alofi. Pacific
Island countries are environmentally fragile and particularly vulnerable to external
chocks such as natural disasters, sudden increases in food and fuel process and price
volatility.
The Pacific thus needs a coordinated and multi-sectoral response, involving stakeholders
along the food chain. “There is an urgent need for a new international system for
agriculture and rural development”, said Dr Diouf, “and bringing all countries together to
agree on main policies and strategies to address the root causes of hunger.” FAO is
proposing a World Food Summit in November 2009, and stands ready to provide support
to a follow-up initiative from the region to convene a Pacific Food Summit in conjunction
with the 2010 Forum Leaders Meeting, to agree on a Pacific Declaration on Food
Security.
Climate change mitigation and adaptation, and disaster preparedness and prevention are
becoming a key focal area for increased development assistance to the Pacific. Poor
nutrition and dietary practices are seriously affecting the health and well-being of
increasing numbers of Pacific Islanders, and the countries in the region need to address
the lack of updated food safety legislation, standards and regulations, the FAO statement
emphasized. Acting Premier of Niue O’love Jacobsen,, stressed that the theme of the
meeting – Earning a living from agriculture – reflects “the face of global and national
socio and economic circumstances, effects of climate change, and cultural lifestyle
changes and attitudes.” Fourteen countries are attending the FAO meeting in Alofi
(Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue,
Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu).
Chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Niue, Pokotoa Sipeli,
the meeting will also address enhancing competitiveness of the agricultural sector
through agribusiness and marketing. National Medium-Term Priority Frameworks for
Pacific Island Countries aim at enhanced national coordination, and will enable more
productive partnerships with donors and programmes active in the region such as
agencies of the UN and the Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific (CROP).
