The Samoa-China Agricultural Technical Aid Project (S.C.A.T.A.P.) launched a vegetable model farmer programme as the next phase of the project on Tuesday with farmers also receiving tools and seeds.

The launching of the programme was held at the S.C.A.T.A.P. farm at Nu'u on Tuesday morning with 30 farmers, who are part of the programme, also present to receive tools and seeds courtesy of the S.C.A.T.A.P. team.

The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, La'auli Leuatea Schmidt represented the Government at the launching of the next phase of the Chinese Government funded programme as well as the Ambassador of China to Samoa, Chao Xiaoliang.

In his speech to mark the occasion, La'auli said agriculture is the backbone of Samoa's economy and returning to cultivate the land is one way to address the challenges of hunger, poverty, the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.

"Our people of Samoa wish to convey our sincere appreciation for everything, China and Samoa has got a very long-term relationship," the Minister said. "We would like to thank you all for all your assistance."

Making reference to the recent Government-launched Pathway for Development, La'auli said one of the objectives under Key Strategic Outcome 2 of the plan for the next five years is to increase agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture productivity and improve access to support and increase productivity for all farmers and fishers.

"We are highly dependent on imported food," he said.

The Minister said the country brings in containers of chicken every month and the Government is keen to put in place alternative forms of protein for Samoans. 

"We have been spending so much money on buying imported food, and here we are, we have a lot of ideas and a lot of projects that we can be able to replace that," he said.

"Only a handful of our commercial farmers have the financial and other farming resources to clear their land and expand agricultural production.

"But the rest which make up about 90 per cent of our farmers depend on my Ministry for assistance and which we cannot provide, as we only have a few tractors and ploughing equipment for minimal land clearing and preparation."

"It is my Ministry's strong position that we can transform our current subsistence farming practices to a sustainable commercialised farming system, if we acquire the needed heavy machines and equipment to assist our farmers with initial land clearing and preparation. 

"The desired outcome of this assistance to our farmers is increased agricultural production thereby contributing to increased import substitution and export efforts; the latter being very crucial as another avenue to generate foreign exchange earnings  for our national economy."

Ambassador Xiaoliang said in his address that agriculture is fundamental for food, job, income and export in Samoa, and added that "the Government of Samoa is making great effort to boost the agricultural development."

Ambassador Xiaoliang also emphasised that most of China's population are farmers and he personally understands its importance.

"The fast growth of agriculture in China during the last seven decades has made the most populous country in the world food self-sufficient," said the diplomat. "The Government and people of China is willing to provide assistance for the agricultural development in Samoa.

"The agricultural cooperation has become one of the most important areas of bilateral cooperation between Samoa and China.

"The S.C.A.T.A.P. has been promoting the production of vegetables, fruits and livestock in Samoa by supplying tunnel houses, seeds, tools, agro-machineries, training and technical assistance to farmers. 

"S.C.A.T.A.P. Phase V is going to support 30 vegetable model farmers, 20 citrus model farmers and 6 model chicken farmers on both Upolu and Savaii."

According to Ambassador Xiaoliang, the project will establish 60 tunnel houses for vegetable farmers. 

"We hope the assistance provided by S.C.A.T.A.P. could help the farmers to improve production, increase income and building the capacity," he said.

"I highly appreciate the Pathway for the Development of Samoa for the next five years issued by the Samoan government, its’ successful implementation will bring tangible benefits to Samoa and its’ people. 

"It is worth mentioning that the demonstration work of the Chinese agricultural expert group will greatly promote the realisation of the goals of increasing agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture productivity, which is one of the key priority objectives in PDS."