FIJI took over the chairmanship of the Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) for the Asia Pacific at the opening of the 47th Meeting of National Representatives of the RCA in Nadi on Tuesday.
This is for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology for Asia and the Pacific.
The Agriculture and Waterways Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Andrew Tukana and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA’s) Director for Technical Cooperation Asia and the Pacific Division, (TCAP) Deng Ge officially opened the meeting.
“I can attest that Fiji’s increased engagements in the last three years with 21 other Member States of the RCA has broadened and strengthened relations and improved capabilities,” he said.
“Fiji’s agriculture sector currently has the most RCA projects implemented in the country and possibly the highest number of staff have been trained under this program.”
Dr Tukana also announced that Fiji had submitted a project proposal which has been approved and would be implemented to address issues faced by local farmers cultivating vegetative propagated crops.
He highlighted that Fiji’s collaboration with the RCA through the IAEA has produced benefits such as strengthening agriculture and food security, combating climate change, and protecting the environment, advancing human health and medical services, building human capital, creating a platform of regional solidarity, and building new networks.
