Inclusive approach on agriculture strategy lauded
FOUNDATION for Rural Integrated Enterprises and Development (FRIEND) director Sashi Kiran has lauded the Pacific Community’s (SPC) groundbreaking gender inclusive people-centred approach for a new organic agriculture strategy for the Pacific.
The five-year strategy, managed by SPC’s Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community (POETCom) also placed greater emphasis on Pacific values, traditions and cultures through better understanding of Pacific approaches to decision making, as well as expanding POETCom’s organic certification training and policy development programs.
“What is exciting about this new strategy is the inclusion of gender and acknowledging the significant role women play in agriculture in the Pacific,” said Ms Kiran.
“As a representative from the POETCom membership, we welcome this inclusion, and look forward to being able to measure gender impact in the Pacific moving forward.”
As POETCom’s first post-COVID-19 long-term initiative to harness continued enthusiasm for organics throughout the Pacific, the new strategy focused on resilience and growth in organic agriculture, a sector hit hard by the pandemic.
In his key address, United Nations Development Programme deputy resident Kevin Petrini said POETCom’s 2021-2025 Strategic Plan represented the key contributor to sustaining Pacific cultures and communities, improving farmer livelihoods, people’s health and the environment in the Pacific.
“This supports UNDP’s 2018-2022 Strategic Plan in key impact areas providing expanded livelihood opportunities for Pacific producers,” Mr Petrini said.
The POETCom launch was attended by representatives from the Australian High Commission, UNDP, UNWomen, Fiji’s Agriculture and Trade ministries; Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development and POETCom members and Participatory Guarantee System groups, including Loving Islands, Fung’s Farm, Fiji Organic Queens Association, Cicia Organic Monitoring Agency and FRIEND.
The Strategic Plan was scheduled to run from 2021 through to 2025.