The Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry 2023 will be held from 6-10 March at the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa on Denarau, Nadi. The Government of Fiji with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Pacific Community (SPC) will host #PWAF2023.

The Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry (PWAF) is a bi-annual event that brings together leaders, experts, and stakeholders from the agriculture and forestry sectors in the Pacific region to discuss key challenges and opportunities facing the sectors. The Government of Fiji through the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Forestry will be hosting the eighth Pacific Heads of Agriculture and Forestry Regional Meeting (2023) on 9 March, followed by the third Regional Meeting of Pacific Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry on 10 March.

The theme for the 2023 PWAF is “Growing together: Transforming Pacific Agriculture and Forestry”, with the overall objective to strengthen and deepen our partnerships for sustainable development in the Pacific region. 

Join #PHAMAPlus at #PWAF2023!

The first three days of #PWAF2023 will feature a series of side-events designed to address key topics facing the agriculture and forestry sectors in the Pacific. PHAMA Plus in collaboration with the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will host a side event (panel discussion) – “Improving the use of export trade pathways for agricultural produce” on Tuesday 7 March. The aim of the panel discussion is  to share perspectives amongst organisers and attendees, to guide future approaches on improving the utilisation of export opportunities. 

The panel will include: 

• Nacanieli Waqa (MPI)
• Bronwyn Wiseman (PHAMA Plus)
• Poonam Nandani (Happy Valley Exports)
• Surend Pratap (Biosecurity Authority of Fiji)
• Tilafono David Hunter (Ministry of Agriculture Samoa)

The panel discussion will be moderated by PHAMA Plus Team Leader Andrew Piper, and NZ MPI Development Manager for Enhanced Pacific Biosecurity & Market Access Partnership Kylie Enoka. 

Under the Enhanced Pacific Market Access Partnership (EPMAP), the New Zealand MPI has partnered with National Plant Protection Organisations (NPPOs) of 5 Pacific Islands Countries (PICs) to establish robust biosecurity export systems. This partnership aims to strengthen the capacity of PICs to use existing pathways to export agricultural products to New Zealand.

In consultation with relevant PIC NPPOs, MPI is collaborating with PHAMA Plus to review the existing access for fresh fruit, vegetables, cut flowers and foliage into New Zealand – identification of market characteristics, utilization levels, constraints, opportunities and prioritized intervention areas that seek to unlock pathway potential. This analysis has been guided by a series of questions, desk-based data/information collation, as well as consultations with relevant stakeholders.

Existing pathways have been categorized in terms of volume, value, consistency, compliance, potential benefits to the exporting PIC and New Zealand. Ultimately, the market analysis undertaken will be used to prioritise where support can be delivered to increase trade that benefits all those involved. 

Register to join the panel discussion via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NFI0Ipd4QaGDGTxhByyh8A 

If you’re in Nadi for the week, come visit the PHAMA Plus booth at #PWAF2023. 

For more information and reference document on #PWAF2023, visit: 

• https://www.fao.org/sids/resources/events/pwaf-2023/en/?fbclid=IwAR0Xsism2f5WgyJPVVDNa1xiloudvtqiOAy7akGBR3F0Wm_Wx_E0q9UTjUQ 
• https://lrd.spc.int/about/pacific-heads-of-agriculture-and-forestry
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See you there!