The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries has lamented the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on families' access to nutritious diets, saying multiple global challenges now make it more difficult.

La’auli Leuatea Schmidt expressed his concerns during his address at the Salelologa market in Savai'i on Tuesday, where the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (M.A.F.) marked World Food Day 2022, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (F.A.O.) of the United Nations.

"This year's celebration 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," said La’auli.

"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."

Looking forward, the Minister said it was important for Samoa to work together as a nation to address the multiple impacts and find solutions for the livelihood of its 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," he added.

Early this month the FAO convened an Asia-Pacific Regional Symposium on Agrifood Systems Transformation in Thailand, which La’auli said Samoa was pleased to be part, as it promoted "multidimensional views and experiences for collective transformational action."

"The common and most important agenda throughout the conference was the call for tangible actions. 

"Action to accelerate the transformation of our food systems since the impacts of the multiple crises may take longer to recover.

"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."

According to the Minister, there are several research and development projects that are being implemented in the agriculture and fisheries sector to support our farmers and fishers increase their production and productivity.

He said these would be done 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," he said.

"At this juncture, I would like to acknowledge with great appreciation, all our development partners and donors, for without your continuous financial and technical support, we would not realise the fruition of our collective efforts, to make Samoa food and nutritionally secured."