20 April 2020 – Food security and agriculture growth and expansion plan announced

Type of Intervention: Executive Order
Sectors Involved: Finance/Economy, Supply chains, Private Sector and Businesses
Intervention Categories: Planning and strategy; Creation of or release of plans
Level of Jurisdiction: National
Lead People/Agency: Minister for Agriculture

Overview: Food Security and Agriculrure Growth and Expansion plan. COVID-19 has 2 caused widespread disruption to people’s livelihoods, driven primarily by movement restrictions and concerns about leaving their houses. The pandemic is also disrupting people’s food environments and is already resulting in food security scares across various countries. We have seen examples of food supply disruptions due to supply chain issues, and production being halted as countries grapple with the global pandemic. Here at home, COVID-19 has brought our vulnerabilities to the forefront, as well as paved opportunities that we need to capitalize on.

Hon. Dr. Reddy wish to focus on the opportunities ahead of us and how the Ministry of Agriculture wishes to seize this opportunity to fulfil two of our critical primary and strategic objectives; those are securing the country for its food and nutritional security requirements, progressively expanding agriculture to its full potential to raise our national income and become the leading export earner for the country. At the same time, addressing our secondary objectives in improving the livelihood of our rural communities, provision for employment opportunities and using sustainable agricultural practices to mitigate climate change issues.

Full details here: https://www.fiji.gov.fj/Media-Centre/Speeches/STATEMENT-BY-THE-MINISTER-FOR-AGRICULTURE-DR-MAHEN

Other links: 1
Type of Justification: Learning from other jurisdictions, Advice of INTERNAL government advisory committee or group
Source of Evidence or Justification: National – government
Evidence/Justification: The pandemic is disrupting people’s food environments and is already resulting in food security scares across various countries.