AUSTRALIA’S POLICY ADVISORY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES IN FIJI

Australia’s Commission for International Agricultural Research and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) Policy Advisory Council arrived in Fiji this week to observe some projects through field site visits between Navua and Nadi.

ACIAR is an Australian Government statutory authority that brokers scientific research partnerships to identify and find solutions to agricultural problems of developing countries.

ACIAR projects aim to enhance rural household incomes and broader economic growth by improving agricultural development, sustainable use of natural resources and building scientific and policy capacity in partner countries.

The visit provides an opportunity to build on ACIAR’s longstanding stakeholder relationships in Fiji through participation in high-level meetings and field visits.

The Commission provides high-level advice on international agricultural research to Australia’s Foreign Minister, the Hon Julie Bishop MP. Commissioners will be accompanied on this visit by the ACIAR chief executive officer, Andrew Campbell, General Manager Country Programs, Peter Horne, and the new Chief Scientist, Daniel Walker, together with ACIAR country office staff based in Suva. The Commission visits different partner countries each year, to examine ACIAR work on the ground.

Prior to Fiji, previous destinations have included Myanmar (2017), Pakistan (2016) and Papua New Guinea (2015). Throughout this week, the team will visit ACIAR projects in Navua, Sigatoka and parts of Nadi before heading to Vanuatu. These project sites are: • Kaiming Ginger at Navua

(which has worked with ACIAR on ginger and taro-for- export) • Galoa fish hatchery • Sigatoka Research Station

(vegetable project). Australian High Commission Feedback: maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj