FIJI’S Agriculture and Waterways Ministry is shifting its focus from primarily conserving plant genetic resources to their active utilisation.
Principal research officer and horticulture research head Savenaca Cuquma said in a presentation during the Pacific Agricultural Plant Genetics Resources Network (PAPGREN) meeting in Nadi recently, that conservation had been mainstreamed into national plans.
“Over the years we’ve been focusing on conservation and exchange of geoplasma,” he said.
“Now, I think, from our experiences over the years and also when PAPGREN came in 2001, the importance of conservation was mainstreamed into national plans.
“Sustainable policies to support national programs and institutional capacity, that is what we are currently focusing on in Fiji.”
Mr Cuquma said the ministry’s key target areas were food security and nutrition for all Fijians, increasing farmers’ household income and sustainable livelihood, improving the adoption of sustainable resource management, commercial agriculture and Climate-Smart Agriculture.
He said the Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) had been reflected in the ministry’s recently-launched Fiji non-sugar agriculture sector 10-year policy.
The ministry is also assisting the Environment Ministry with a national ABS policy and framework.Mr Cuquma said adequate funding for crop projects, which incorporate PGRFA, is estimated at about $400,000 per year.
He said the ministry had successfully released new crop varieties, including very high yielding fruit tubers with characteristics like non-branching and one-stage or two-stage branching.
“We have very strong private nursery operators in Fiji. Then we have private sector and community nurseries and farmers.”
Mr Cuquma said Fiji had supported several island countries by providing open pollinated seeds, with the Government investing about $1million annually in this area.
