Page 18 - IB March 2021

Agriculture Agriculture

FARMERS HAVE THEIR SAY

BUT ARE THEY BEING HEARD?

Photo: SPC

By Samantha Magick in recognition of its importance to food security, economic
growth and physical health and well-being.
Were you one of the many Pacific Islanders who spent the “Whilst the current COVID-19 situation remains dire, there
first few weeks of the coronavirus pandemic with soil under are major opportunities within the agricultural sector to boost
your nails? The introduction of lockdowns plus border closures the Pacific economy,” the Pacific Islands Farmers Organisa-
precipitated an explosion of backyard gardening across the tions Network (PIFON) said.
region last year, as people had more time on their hands and “Agriculture has all too often played second fiddle” wrote
looked to feed their families and supplement incomes. the authors of PIFON’s survey, COVID-19 & Agriculture: Pacific
For a few weeks early in the pandemic, vegetable seeds farmers have their say.
were almost impossible to come by in stores, and there were The report recommended:
long lines for free seeds outside the Ministry of Agriculture • Pacific Island Governments and authorities need to
office in Suva, Fiji. In Honiara, the Kastom Gaden Association’s ensure their economies are geared to feed their own
Model Farm was busy. “We’ve received more than 900 visi- populations and provide local markets for farmers to
tors requesting for seeds, seedlings and information between sell goods for domestic consumption.
October and November last year,” the Association’s Pitakia • Roll out “Eat Local, Grow Local, Buy Local” messaging.
Tikai told Solomon Islands media. And the Guam Plant and • Investment in reorientating and developing new, more
Seed Share website, which has been quietly operating since flexible and diversified value chains to better cope with
2011, saw a doubling of its membership when Guam went into future pandemic and other economic, environmental
lockdown. and climate shocks.
NishiMinoru of Tonga’s Nishi Trading said of these novice • Home gardeners need information on soil health, soil
planters: “Some of them have never grown anything in their preparation, planting and integrated pest management,
life but they’re all growing, and they’re excited about that. what crops are best to grow in small areas, traditional
But the challenge with this is that when this all comes to medicine plants and multi-grafted fruit and nut trees on
maturity, it’s finding the market for them, and I think this dwarfed root stocks.
is where value adding opportunity for Tonga is to look at • Resources should be channelled into value-adding pro-
processing some of the stuff. The challenge there then is cessors and agribusinesses, small and medium enter-
infrastructure. This is where I think development partners can prises (SMEs) to value add to and preserve surplus fresh
come to the table.” produce arising from the closure of tourism outlets.
“I see a risk in that there is no real overarching policy for • Farmer’s organisations can partner with other stake-
the whole country,”Minoru continues. “We need a 50 year holders to produce training videos, webinars etc on
roadmap.” backyard gardens, pest management, soil health, plant
The pandemic also saw many people-suddenly jobless in care, tips and tricks for gardening.
urban or tourist centres-return to their village, something sug- • More flexible fiscal and banking polices are needed to
arcane farmer Ratu Livai Tora and chairman of Fiji’s Nature’s help the agricultural sector cater for food security and
Way Cooperative told the Reset Fiji program, had caused support rural livelihoods. Governments need to invest
disputes over land. and focus more of their budgetary allocations to agri-
While people were planting at a domestic level, experi- culture so countries can become self-sufficient and food
enced larger-scale farmers have urged governments, donors secure.
and national planners to reprioritise support for agriculture • More investment is needed in equipment, technical

18 Islands Business, March 2021