A three day workshop is now underway in Suva to boost the agriculture sector in the Pacific.
The Pacific Agriculture Policy workshop will focus on how senior agriculture and finance officials improve their area of work.
“To share expertise. To share experience on how best to make sure that the income generated by agriculture really benefits the people. In the Pacific, a great number of people really rely on agriculture,” said Andrew Jacobs (EU Ambassador to Fiji)
“When you look at the data we always talk about 2-3% of the national budget going to agriculture. So the question is not necessarily in terms of whether that amount is enough but looking into ways in showing whatever resources wisely used,” said Kofi Nouve (Senior Agriculture Economist, World Bank)
The workshop will also look at agricultural policies and linking it to public financial management.
“Direct budgetary allocation to the agricultural or sugar sector and also the unzealous infrastructure development that has taken place on the roads, bridges and ports. Its very important that we don’t only look at the production side but also to look at how we can link the commodities to the markets that they want to tap,” said Shaheen Ali (PS – Industry, Trade & Tourism)