The Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Program or PHAMA Plus provides practical and targeted assistance to help Pacific island countries manage regulatory aspects associated with exporting primary and value-added products. This encompasses gaining access for products into new markets, and helping to manage issues associated with maintaining and improving existing trade.

Core countries assisted through PHAMA Plus are Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu. PHAMA Plus is supported by the Australian and New Zealand governments.

Our goal: Improve economic growth and rural livelihoods

Agriculture is central to the livelihoods of Pacific peoples however, the region has been economically disadvantaged with limited development opportunities. With the rise in a global economy and challenges such as climate change, increasing world population and diminishing food security, it is imperative development opportunities are improved to boost economic security in the region.

Recognising that exporters, processors and farming households are the drivers of economic growth and export supply chains, PHAMA Plus places greater emphasis on country leadership, with enhanced market facilitation being led by willing and capable private sector partners.

The program’s country teams will include resources for facilitation of market interventions, coordination of delivery and results measurement. This approach will ensure local market relevance and responsiveness as well as facilitation of market systems development through private sector partners.

PHAMA Plus does not have the scope or mandate to work directly with farming households. Instead, the program will facilitate market partners to work with farming households where needed to improve quantity and quality and compliance with export protocols in targeted commodities.