Pillay Commends Agricultural Fund’s Investment in Fiji
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) engagement in the Pacific islands has expanded and grown from strength to strength over the last six years.
Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Viam Pillay, yesterday thanked the fund for allocating more resources for the Pacific. Mr Pillay was opening the organisation’s second regional review and financial management procurement course at the Tanoa Skylodge Hotel in Nadi.
“IFAD’s total investment in the Pacific has grown from as little as US$200,000 (FJ$408,672) in 2007 to over US$140 million (FJ$286.07m) in 2017,” Mr Pillay said. “IFAD’s comparative advantage in the Pacific Islands is its global experience and commitment to rural and agricultural investment and its recognition of the specific challenges and needs of smallholder farmers.”
The increase in funding has coincided with a nearly doubling of Pacific Island membership since 2005, Mr Pillay said.
Mr Pillay said the meeting would create a platform where technical expertise and knowledge about IFAD’s financial management and procurement processes could be shared. IFAD Director Ron Hartman said their role in the region was to develop new innovative approaches that help small producers overcome challenges and boost livelihoods.
“We invest in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase their food and nutritional security and strengthen their resilience,” Mr Hartman said.
The technical and logistical support for the workshop was provided by the Pacific Islands Farmers Organisation.
“I look forward to a successful training programme over the next five days and I strongly encourage you all to become actively engaged in the various course sessions and discussions on financial management and procurement,” Mr Pillay added.