What began decades ago as a global effort to tackle food shortages has now become a full-blown crisis in Fiji.
This was the warning from Minister for Agriculture and Waterways Tomasi Tunabuna during World Food Day celebrations yesterday, as he highlighted the growing threat of food insecurity and poor nutrition across the country.
Mr Tunabuna said Fiji was now facing multiple challenges that affected food availability and affordability, including climate change, rising costs, competition from foreign producers, and over-reliance on imported food.
“Its establishment was to address food shortage with all the different pressures that they had then,” he said.
“But I think a lot of those problems have now really become a crisis.”
He said the Government was working to strengthen partnerships between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health to promote healthier diets and ensure long-term food security.
“We need to form an alliance with not only the Ministry of Agriculture but also the Ministry of Health in terms of what Fiji does to our health.
“We also need to work with policies that address current situations, climate change, increasing prices, and competition with other producers.”
Mr Tunabuna added that addressing food wastage and reducing dependence on imported produce would be key to building a more resilient food system.
