Page 22 - IB OCT 2017

Agriculture Rugby dreams Our stars chase the Exploitation Foreign rugby agents
big pay P30
blamed for player abuses P31

From Page 21 Dates Event Comments
Why agritourism, some may ask.
A workshop in 2016 set the scene for 6-10 Oct 13th edition of the Caribbean Former Minister of Agriculture Hon David Tosul
improving linkages between agriculture, 2014 Week of Agriculture (CWA), Para- and DG Howard Aru attended. Birth of the idea of a
trade, tourism and health and proposed a maribo, Suriname ‘Pacific Week of Agriculture’ (PWA).
clear strategy to contribute to building the 11-14 May 11th Meeting of the FAO South- Communique covering Pacific Week of Agriculture
economy through developing agritourism. 2015 west Pacific Ministers for Agricul- (refer items 25 and 26 in communique) formalising
The workshop was held after Vanuatu’s ture, Port Moresby, PNG. regional support for Vanuatu to host first ever PWA
in 2017.
attendance at the SPC-sponsored agri- 29 June – 3 Pacific Community Agritourism First-ever Pacific Community Agritourism Week.
tourism conference in Nadi, Fiji from 29 July 2015 Week: Glocalising Pacific Agri- Gathering of officials, farmers, chefs, private sec-
June to 3 July 2015. Food Through Tourism, Nadi, Fiji. tor to explore new concept of Agritourism and its
Local chefs were identified as the “link” contributions to economic development in PAC.
between agriculture and tourism. Their 2-6 Nov Caribbean and Pacific Agri-food Howard (former DG Agriculture) attended and
vast knowledge and skills in the hospital- 2015 Forum, Bridgetown, Barbados spoke on Agritourism in the Pacific region. Other
ity industry could be easily harnessed to participants from the Pacific attended.
increase local sourcing and promoting the 9 Dec 2015 Signing of MOU between Ministry Vanuatu establishes first ever national Agritourism
country’s image as a top food destination. of Agriculture and Trade, Port Steering Committee (ATSC), Port Vila to drive agri-
Vanuatu already has a comparative ad- Vila. tourism initiatives in the country.
vantage with some of its products known 25-27 May Vanuatu Agritourism Policy Set- Gathering of key stakeholders to drive policy think-
for their quality, such as beef, cocoa, 2016 ting Workshop, Port Vila. ing forward re: Agri-Tourism in Vanuatu.
honey and coffee. 9-11 Nov First ever Vanuatu national Agrito- Done with the aim of giving a stronger push to our
The Government of Vanuatu is firmly 2016 urism Festival agritourism initiatives and to link agriculture to
of the view that bringing agriculture, 4 April 2017 Vanuatu launched 2017 as the the tourism sector.
COM was convinced of the message of agritourism
trade, health and tourism closer together ‘Year of Agritourism’ and an NZAid- and passed a resolution to issue this declaration.
will stimulate the agricultural sector, funded Agritourism Strategy. The strategy launched was based on discussions
strengthen local producers’ organisations with NZAid when they enquired about what they
and increase sustainable economic growth could support MALFFB with that could be a ‘quick
and employment. 16-20 Oct Inaugural Pacific Week of Agricul- win’ for its work.
n SPC 2017 ture (PWA) Vanuatu will host the first ever PWA – an initiative
which is being fully supported by SPC, FAO, CTA
and other development partners.
International

Forwarding & Moving

CONNECTING YOU
CONNECTING YOU

TO THE WORLD
TO THE WORLD

www.fsf.com.fj

22 Islands Business, October 2017