FAO.org

FAO Disaster Risk Management and Resilience Work in FSM is continuing 4months after Tropical Cyclone Maysak struck the Federated States of Micronesia. Approximately 30 000 people on 36 islands were affected by destructive winds and torrential rainfall when Tropical Cyclone Maysak struck Chuuk State on 28-29 March and Yap State on 1 April. Agriculture and infrastructure were seriously affected in both states, with many islands having suffered at least 90 percent damage to staple...

The Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are partnering to promote fresh produce safety and quality in Samoa. Consumers have a right to expect that the foods  purchased and consumed will be safe and of high quality. Consumers should also have a right to voice their opinions about the food control procedures, standards and activities that governments and industry...

Milkfish will soon be reared in a commercially viable and environment-friendly way in Tonga.  The FAO assisted joint- project to rear milkfish aims to develop a sustainable source of food and income for island communities. The communities have been involved in steps of the process and received training in the operation of the farm as well as in business management. Fisheries staff from the Government of Tonga visited the Philippines as part...

The formation of the Micronesian Association for Sustainable Aquaculture (MASA) was endorsed at the 15th Micronesia Presidents Summit which was held in the Marshall Islands in July. The annual summit allows the presidents of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands to exchange views and information on national, regional and international issues. Prior to the summit, the establishment of a cooperative arrangement...

The FAO Subregional office of the Pacific Island is pleased to welcome Frank Chopin, who will take up the position of Senior fisheries and aquaculture officer in Apia, Samoa.  Frank joins the Subregional office following 8 years in FAO Rome where he was Chief of the Fishing Operations and Technology Service. Mr Chopin has experience in the public and private sectors in different countries including roles in fisheries R&D, technology transfer...

FAO is assisting the Government of Vanuatu and the land owners and communities of South Pentecost with the establishment of a Community Conservation Area. South Pentecost is internationally known for its unique cultural activity – the famous land-dive, which is said to be the forerunner to bungy jumping.  The land dive is a unique selling point to attract tourists. However, the commercialization of land diving has led to debates around the...

FAO is assisting the Government of Niue by providing technical assistance towards improved management of its conservation and protected areas. Development of eco-cultural tourism is a component of the GEF “Forestry and protected area management” project  in Niue. The eco-tourism component for Niue is implemented by the Niue Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Department for Tourism. Consultation with local stakeholders to identify potentially viable eco-cultural tourism opportunities and conducting market...

THE 11th FAO Southwest Pacific Agriculture Ministers Meeting has agreed on a proposal to host the Pacific Week of Agriculture. This is a major agricultural event similar to the Caribbean Week of Agriculture. The proposal was presented to the meeting by Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) , FAO and the Secretariat of Pacific Community. This event will facilitate closer collaboration, coordination and networking in the agricultural sector in the...

The Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc and the FAO are joining forces to promote contract farming as a means to coordinate links between farmers and agribusiness firms. In simple terms, contract farming is an agreement which establishes conditions between a buyer and farmers for the production and marketing of a farm product or products. Under contract farming, producers typically commit to the future delivery of farm products to a buyer...

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva praised the first ever participation by representatives from all 13 Pacific island countries at a meeting of FAO’s governing Conference. “I would like to convey my gratitude for this historic participation, which is a clear demonstration of the engagement of your countries in the work of FAO,” Graziano da Silva said. He made the remarks during a meeting with the heads of delegation from the 13...