The eight agriculture ministers and one associate minister have expressed great satisfaction with the outcome of the 11^th FAO Southwest Pacific ministers meeting. The ministers thanked the FAO and the PNG Government for the successful hosting and chairing of the meeting in Port Moresby.

Cook Islands Minister for Agriculture, Kiriau Turepu, said it was his first meeting and described it as an “eye opener” on many agricultural issues affecting the people in the Pacific region. He said his country was facing serious problems in food security and climate change had a bigger impact on agriculture.

The FAO meeting, he stressed, has given him renewed hope that international and regional organisations and other partners would continue to provide much needed assistance.

Tonga’s Minister for Agriculture, Food, Forest and Fisheries, Semisi Fakahau, said his country appreciated the efforts of FAO in bringing the Pacific island countries together to discuss vital issues affecting the region. He was impressed with the outcomes of the meeting and was confident that the current and new projects agreed to will be implemented successfully over the years.

Inia Seruiratu, Fiji’s agriculture minister, agreed it was a successful meeting and said he was looking forward to working closely with other ministers in promoting agriculture in the region. David Tosul, Vanuatu’s Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity, said it was a good meeting and he looked forward to hosting and chairing the next meeting in two years’ time.

He also thanked PNG and other island countries for assisting the people of Vanuatu in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Pam. Niue’s Minister for Natural Resources, Billy Graham Talagi, said most Pacific island countries are struggling due to problems like effects of climate change, sea level rising, soil fertility and others, and appreciated the support of FAO and other partners in providing technical assistance.

Senior programme manager, Raj Rajasekar, representing New Zeland, expressed his appreciation and emphasized that such forums were important in fostering closer collaboration and networking amongst all PICs and Australia, New Zealand and other countries.

Contributor: Soldier Buruka – Media Officer
Papua New Guinea Department of Agriculture and Livestock