Caption: Minister for Agriculture Mr Inia Seruiratu with the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Mr Kanayo Nwanze.Photo:SUPPLIED.
The Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime and National Disaster Management, Hon Inia Seruiratu on his recent visit to Italy in Rome, met with the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Mr Kanayo Nwanze to explore ways of strengthening cooperation and deepening IFAD’s engagement with Fiji.
During the meeting, discussions focused on addressing the needs of smallholder farmers and rural Fijians, achieving national food security and consolidating bilateral cooperation.
Mr Nwanze emphasised that IFAD will provide US$6m in the implementation of the Fiji Agricultural Partnership Project (FAPP) which will assist private sectors in enhancing the value chains for agricultural produce from remote rural areas.
Mr Nwanze also emphasised that Fiji will also benefit from the US$8m regional project on Adaptation to Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP) which would assist farmers to adapt to climate change. In addition, he said that Fiji will benefit from a US$3m grant to improve technologies and policy environment for the agriculture sector.
Mr Nwanze thanked Minister Seruiratu for Fiji’s commitment to IFAD through the pledge of US$100,000 towards the 10th replenishment of IFAD Resources which he says will be targeted at agricultural investments in less developed countries. Fiji is the only country from the Pacific that has pledged towards the 10th replenishment.
IFAD invests in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience. Since 1980, IFAD has provided US $100m to the Pacific in grants and low-interest loans to projects. IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialised United Nations agency based in Rome – the UN’s food and agriculture hub.
DEPTFO