Fisheries and Forestry Minister Kalaveti Ravu delivered Fiji’s Country Statement at the 37th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific where he highlighted the prioritisation of country and regional needs.

Speaking in Colombo, Sri Lanka, he said Fiji was deeply connected to the land and the sea and recognised the vital importance of sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forests in ensuring food security, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability for its people and future generations.

Mr Ravu said Fiji was a Small Island Developing State and faced numerous structural challenges in sustainably developing its agriculture, fisheries, and forestry sectors and was particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

“All of these impact the food and nutrition security and livelihoods of our people.  Building resilience in our agri-food systems is therefore a critical priority for Fiji,” he said.

The Minister also said Fiji has prioritised the implementation of adaptation strategies to build resilience in the face of extreme weather events and changing environmental conditions by promoting and investing in climate-smart agriculture techniques such as agroforestry, use of drought resistant crop varieties and water management practices to ensure the long term viability of our agricultural sector. 

“Fiji is also dedicated to sustainable capture fisheries and aquaculture practices that ensure the long-term health of its marine resources and support the livelihoods of its coastal communities. Fiji is working to promote responsible fishing practices and sustainable aquaculture development to meet the growing demand for seafood while preserving our oceans for future generations.”

He acknowledged the technical assistance and capacity building initiatives provided by the FAO in strengthening resilience of Fiji’s fisheries sector, enabling the country to better adapt to the challenges posed by climate change and overfishing.