World Bank boosts Samoan agriculture and fisheries sectors

Apia: Local producers and tens of thousands of Samoan families will benefit from improved management and productivity in Samoa’s agriculture and fisheries sectors through a US$20 million (FJ$45m) grant recently approved by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors.

The Samoa Agriculture & Fisheries Productivity and Marketing Project will strengthen the management, productivity and climate resilience of Samoa’s agricultural and fisheries sectors and support Samoan farmers and fishers to improve links with agro-processors and traders.

Grants programme

A key part of the project is the rehabilitation and construction of infrastructure, including nurseries, crop drying facilities and cold storage at fish markets; all to be built or rehabilitated to disaster-resilient standards. A matching grants programme will also be implemented to support 700 subsistence and semi-commercial farmers, together with 20 producers’ organisations, as well as microand small enterprises, to increase productivity and access to markets.

Additionally, the project will strengthen the management of Samoa’s shared oceanic and coastal fisheries by improving surveillance, increasing national engagement in formal fisheries negotiations and growing Samoa’s capacity to export fish and fish products.

“Delivering sustainable, consistent benefits from our agriculture and fisheries sectors is critical to the economic prosperity of Samoa,” said Lopao’o Natanielu Mua, Samoa’s Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.

World Bank Feedback: maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj