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Agriculture Health Pacific women bear the costs Sports Exploitation of our boys in
P28
Europe P29
The road

to PWA

2017

OVERSEAS travel by government officials
can be quite controversial at times and
often comes under the microscope in the
Pacific. More often than not, criticisms
are not way off the mark.
Not for Vanuatu’s former Minister of
Agriculture David Tosul and his then
Director-General Mr. Howard Aru; current
Coordinator of PWA 2017.
The year was 2014, October 6 to 12
when they represented Vanuatu at the
13th Caribbean Week of Agriculture for
the first time in Paramaribo, Surinam. Both New Zealand and Australia are working with Vanuatu on a number of agriculture initiatives, including a
That was when the idea of a Pacific Week potato programme with Vanuatu Direct Ltd that provides seeds to farmers on Tanna and Efate. AHC Jenny de Rin
. Photos: Supplied
of Agriculture was hatched.
“We were at this luncheon. The Minister independence the two sectors have been Matai Seremaiah Nawalu.
leaned over to me and said, ‘DG what do kept almost in isolation of each other. “While we often talk about the need to
you think if I propose that Vanuatu host The Surinam meeting brought home increase exports —and this is important,
something like this?’ the idea that Vanuatu as a country could there is also a huge need to produce
“I said, I think that’s a great idea,” Mr play a leading role in connecting farmers enough to satisfy local demands,” he
Aru responded. The minister stood up from the region to markets they need, adds.
during the course of the luncheon and and bridging the gap between agriculture, Tosul’s successor is one of the young-
publicly announced Vanuatu’s interest tourism and trade through agri-tourism. est in the Vanuatu cabinet. His youthful
in hosting something similar to CWA. The 11th FAO Southwest Pacific Min- energy and passion has been evident since
Partners picked up the declaration almost isters of Agriculture Meeting held in Port the Council of Minister’s endorsement and
immediately and that was the birth of Moresby the following year after the declaration of 2017 as the ‘Year of Agri-
PWA. As they say, the rest is history. Surinam meeting formally endorsed PWA Tourism’ in April this year.
Interestingly, the Caribbean and the Pa- 2017 through its communiqué. The Vanuatu Government wants to
cific share much in common. Economies Thanks to the efforts of the hardwork- ensure PWA becomes a success, which
in these island nations revolve around ing directors in Agriculture, Tourism is why its Parliament appropriated Vt20
agriculture and tourism, both of which and Trade who are members of the PWA million towards the inaugural PWA event.
are vulnerable to natural disasters such as Taskforce, PWA is set to become a premier Since taking over from Tosul he has
cyclones, exacerbated by climate change. event in the agriculture calendar for the been at the forefront of almost every-
Agriculture plays a very significant role in region. For the first time this year it will thing good about agriculture, thanks
the livelihood of the rural majority. combine two regional meetings formerly to engineers like Mr Aru and current
For Vanuatu, agriculture alone contrib- run separately by the SPC and FAO – the Director-General, Mr Benjamin Shing.
utes 18 per cent of the Gross Domestic Heads of Agriculture and Forestry Meet- They have led government visits to islands
Product and sometimes increases to 21 ing (HOAFs) and Ministers of Agriculture with various agricultural potential —
per cent. and Forestry Meeting (MOAFs). Santo, Malekula, Epi, Maewo and Tanna
It is a sector that the greatest bulk of the It is expected to provide the much- to literally translate policy to action on
population are involved in, albeit mostly needed platform for engagement and the ground.
for their own consumption needs. Tour- discussion that should pave the way for As a result, the PWA Coordinator
ism on the other hand constitutes well better linkages between farmers and the confirms, almost 40 farmers and tourism
over 40 per cent of GDP; creates well over markets, or between tourism, trade and entrepreneurs are showcasing for the first
6000 jobs and accounts for 75 per cent agriculture. time ever at a major regional event!
of Vanuatu’s foreign exchange earnings, “We need to expose our farmers to op- Why agritourism?
making the country one of the leading portunities that are available.
cruise destinations in the South Pacific. “We need to rally them to increase their Continued overleaf
For the last 30 or so years of Vanuatu productions,” says Agriculture Minister web link:
www.islandsbusiness.com

Islands Business, October 2017 21