PACIFIC governments need to put adequate priority into national budgets for the development of agriculture, said the FAO Director-General Mr Jacques Diouf, who opened the Ninth FAO South West Pacific Ministers of Agriculture Meeting in Vava'u on April 5.

Ministers and officials from 16 Pacific Island countries met under the theme, "Sustainable agriculture and food security," emphasising linkages between economic, social and environmental dimensions.

Also discussed in the meeting were policies in support of smallholder based agricultural transformation; commercialization of agriculture; improved plant protection and bio-security.

Priority

Mr Diouf said it is for the Ministers of Agriculture to decide what outcome they wanted to achieve at the end of their meeting on April 7.

"But it is our hope that at the end of their meeting they would come to a consensus that local governments put priority into national budget allocations for the development of agriculture for local production. At the same time put enough of it's own resources to help farmers," he said.

He also pointed out that, contrary to what existed before in South Pacific countries, people were now importing more food instead of relying on local production.

Mr Jacques said that FAO had launched a Food Security Program in the region with the main objective of assisting countries in agriculture production and productivity through projects such as water irrigation, pesticide management and control and provision of seeds.

He said that processing of local food is a way forward to having adequate food supply and technology allowed local food to processed in a more efficient way. "But at the end of the day it comes down to policy choices," he said

The FAO looks at all stages from agriculture production, processing, marketing, food quality, food safety, land preparation and he said that governments should request assistance in these areas.

The FAO has 191 member countries and its role is to provide policy advice and assist in modernising resources and projects.