The Pacific region, over the years has moved from eating a lot of fresh food to becoming a people of packaging and processed food.
Samoan Deputy Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, pointed this out during the official opening of the Agriculture and Fisheries show.
“Everything is consumed out of plastics. Which is again wasted and thrown around and polluting the world and at the same time our own diets and our systems are getting polluted.” Mata’afa said.
The Pacific Week of Agriculture aims to expand the sharing of Regional agricultural experience, and advice on technologies that will benefit stakeholders and sustain the development of agriculture.
Through this, individuals have a platform to share information on breakthrough efforts and research by participating stakeholders.
Mata’afa said, “When a country rates highly in possessing excellent food and nutrition food security, then it is a country with content people… which leads to a prosperous nation.”
Of the PNG delegates, representing the PNG Forestry sector, Dr. Ruth Turia says they are looking at what the pacific community is doing in the region in assisting countries to look at firstly the agriculture sector, in terms of food security.
Dr Turia added , “…for forestry we will be looking at eco system management.”
Food and Agriculture Organization Assistant Director General, Kundhavi Kadiersan, challenged individuals saying, “People need to be health conscious and informed to change their food choices and eating patterns and limit the consumption of industrially processed foods.”
The first Pacific week of agriculture was held in Vanuatu in 2017, with this year being the second time in the region’s history.
Samoan Deputy Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, also urged the discussions, throughout the week to focus deeply on healthy nutrition to build a healthy pacific people for which future national plans will affirm and depend.
By Lillian Sopera-Keneqa – EMTV News – Apia, Samoa
