SPC plays a major role in providing support

THE Pacific Community (SPC) is the key technical organisation providing support around sustainable seed systems in the region, says SPC’s Land Resources Division (LRD) director Karen Mapusua.

She made the comment during the official opening of the Fiji MOA Seed Processing and Storage Unit at the Sigatoka Research Station on Monday.

“The economic importance of LRD’s work is clear — agriculture underpins economies across the Pacific,” she said.

Ms Mapusua said the challenges of improving food security, ensuring nutritional value, facilitating trade and developing capacity across those areas were central to the development efforts of the region.

“We have implemented several programs and projects around seed systems over the past years.

“These include technical support and training in the areas of plant protection, conservation and use of genetic resources, animal health, animal production, agroforestry, soil sciences, land management, biosecurity and trade facilitation.”

She said SPC was grateful to the MFAT — Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, one of their key partners for backing the important launch that would help improve seed systems in Fiji and also serve as a training centre for other neighbouring countries that would want to go into seed production.

The Fiji MOA Seed Processing and Storage Unit was funded through a grant provided by the Pacific Seeds for Life (PS4L) program coordinated by SPC’s Land Resources Division (LRD) in collaboration with the Agriculture Ministry and the Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research New Zealand (MWLR).

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