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.

What we do: Effective market-access support 

PHAMA Plus is a continuation of work carried out in the previous phases of the program known as PHAMA. Program work focuses on maintaining and improving existing market access by developing the capacity of the public and private sectors to meet the requirements of these markets, and on gaining access for novel agricultural — based products into new markets. PHAMA also provides assistance in meeting export regulations, such as compliance with international food safety standards. In terms of new export products, PHAMA Plus can assist with market research and market development activities.

Central to the PHAMA Plus approach is the development of strong public — private partnerships. Market Access Working Groups (MAWGs) have been established by PHAMA in the core countries. These include private sector representatives (e.g. exporters and producer groups) and relevant government agencies responsible for elements of market access (e. g Departments of Quarantine, Trade, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry). MAWGs provide the link between farmers, industry and government.

Examples of our activities include:

• Gaining new markets for selected products;
• Accreditation for selected export facilities;
• Development of quality production and processing manuals;
• Animal or plant health surveys to support market access;
• Export feasibility for selected products to new destinations;
• Development of bio-security plans;
• Development of export pathway protocols for new products; and
• Capacity building of public and private sector to gain, maintain and improve international market access.

Where we work

The PHAMA Plus Program Support Unit is located at 30 Des Voeux Road, Suva, Fiji. Smaller offices are operated in other core countries, staffed by dedicated country teams. PHAMA Plus is managed by DT Global with KALANG Consultancy Services Australia.