SPC and Pacific Island Farmers Organisation Network agreement signed

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community has signed a partnership agreement with the Pacific Island Farmers Organisation Network to address poverty alleviation through the promotion of agricultural livelihoods.
 
The partnership, which provides $400,000 support to the network in two years to December 2016, aims to also increase the contribution of the agriculture and forestry sectors to national economic growth in the Pacific region.

 
SPC deputy director-general Fekita 'Utoikamanu said the partnership had been facilitated by their Land Resources Division's intra-ACP agriculture policy program.
 
“The program encompasses the Pacific and Caribbean's region, of which eight million euro ($F19.7m) has been allocated by the European Union for the Pacific component.
 
“The Pacific Agriculture Policy Program commenced in July this year and will run to 2017.
 
“APP's main objective is to increase the capability of agricultural development organisations in the Pacific region and address the development needs of smallholder farmers by assisting them to adopt new technologies, build on traditional knowledge and strengthen linkages to markets.”
 
She said SPC had invested in a change process — restructuring and repositioning itself to better provide efficient and practical services delivering clear results for member countries.
 
“This partnership firmly places farmers at the centre of our development efforts.
 
“Without the hard work of our farmers, there is no food supply, no food security and it will be difficult to sustain the growth of our communities.”.

Source: http://bit.ly/12OTHVD