Fiji has been selected to pilot a proposed seed system model, Pacific Seeds for Life (PS4L) project implemented by Pacific Community (SPC) Land Resources Division.
The New Zealand government funded project held an intensive discussion among stakeholders at the PS4L Fiji Seed Forum held in Nadi recently.
Assistant Agriculture Minister Viam Pillay said Fiji’s import bill for vegetable seeds continued to increase from $1.5 million in 2019 to $2.4 million in 2020 and $4.1 million in 2021.
“These numbers are one more reason why we held such a forum to ensure that our concerted efforts are directed towards enhancing the development of Fiji’s seed industry,” he said.
The three-day forum brought together representatives from the farming community, research and extension officers from the Ministry of Agriculture, NGOs, seed suppliers and private seed producers.
SPC Land Resources Division (LRD) director, Karen Mapusua said that the successful implementation of the seed system would depend on national and local governments plus the relevant stakeholders working in close collaboration along seed value chains.
“The economic importance of LRD’s work on seeds is clear – agriculture underpins economies across the Pacific. The challenges of improving food security, ensuring nutritional value, facilitating trade and developing capacity across these areas are central to regional development efforts,” said Ms Mapusua.
