In celebration of this year’s World Food Day in Samoa, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Laauli Leautea Schmidt said its a day to raise awareness of ongoing efforts to eliminate poverty, food insecurity and unhealthy diets.
The theme for this year’s World Food Day is, “Leave no one behind” which emphasizes that a sustainable country is one where everyone counts.
He said it is a timely reminder as the world’s access and availability of nutritious food is increasingly impeded by multiple challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts, climate change, rising prices and international tensions.
Laauli made the comments at the ceremony held in Salelologa Savaii on Wednesday.
“Like all countries in the world, Samoa is experiencing multiple impacts of the challenges, which are causing social and economic hardship and uncertainties, and putting pressure on public health systems and food and nutrition security.”
“In this respect, it is imperative for Samoa to work together as a nation to address the multiple impacts and find solutions for the livelihood of our people.
“Our Government continues to promote investments in the agriculture and fisheries sector, in order to strengthen domestic food production through increasing on-farm productivity, improving fisheries resource and aquaculture management, import substitution and enhance market linkages of farmers and fishers.”
According to Laauli, earlier this month, the FAO convened an Asia – Pacific Regional Symposium on Agrifood Systems Transformation hosted by the Government of Thailand.
“Samoa was pleased to be part of the symposium which encouraged multi-dimensional views and experiences for collective transformational actions.
“The common and most important agenda throughout the conference was the call for tangible actions.
“Actions to accelerate the transformation of our food systems since the impacts of the multiple crises may take longer to recover.”
He said the theme of the Samoa Food Systems Pathway 2030 is, “transforming food systems for a resilient and healthy Samoa where no one is left behind”.
“It is an indication of the direction that we need to take together, to combat the issues we face.”
Adding that they cannot transform our situation if actions are only taken by a few people or a few communities.
“We must work together to provide a better future for our people through partnership with our farmers and fishers, development partners and all our stakeholders.
“Action has to be done collaboratively as a nation to achieve the results we need for Samoa.
“Several research and development projects are implemented in the agriculture and fisheries sector, to support our farmers and fishers to increase their production and productivity, through the application of various production technologies and digital initiatives, and addressing the vulnerabilities of agriculture, food and nutrition security due to the multiple challenges we are facing today.
“While it is through projects and technological advances that can support transformations, the true transformation needs to come from each and every one of us, to make a change in our food systems to achieve resilience and healthier diets for all, so that truly, no one is left behind.”
The Minister acknowledged all of Samoa’s development partners and donors, for, without their continuous financial and technical support.
“We would not realize the fruition of our collective efforts, to make Samoa food and nutritionally secure.”
