Member of Parliament for Siumu, Tu’uu Anasi’i Leota says there are projections of a global famine as a result of a number of global issues, but it’s evident from Government initiatives such as the Talomua, the Country will not face those predicaments.
He acknowledged efforts by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Laauli Leuatea Schmidt in reviving the Talomua. Tu’uu said members of their Constituency inquired about this initiative which led to their Talomua last month, which was a success.
“It was supported by the Constituents as initiatives as such will benefit the Village, Churches and Constituency.” Adding that the Talomua initiative shall continue in any case of global food security and Samoa will not go hungry.
The comments by Tu’uu was raised during the deliberation in Parliament’s of the proposed budget of $960 million for the new financial year.
In May, the Punauli Farmers and Fishers Association in the village of Siumu hosted its first Talomua with the theme, work Hard for the First Harvest.
As up to 811 million people go to bed hungry every night, the number of those facing acute food insecurity has more than doubled. A total of 50 million people are facing the emergency levels of hunger in 45 countries. In just two years, the number of severely food insecure people has increased by more than 200 million from 135 million (in 53 countries before the COVID-19 pandemic) to 345 million in 82 countries.
