Cabinet has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Technical Cooperation on Coconut between Fiji through the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the Government of the Republic of Philippines through the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) of the Department of Agriculture.
Cabinet based its decision on a submission by the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Inia Seruiratu.
The Minister said that the focus of this MOU is to strengthen the existing friendly relations between the two countries through the technical co-operation agreement in the development of the Coconut sector in both countries.
He said that the MOU will encourage the development of the coconut sector’s good agricultural field practices, including pre-harvest and post-harvest management; enhance and strengthen exchange of genetic materials with tolerance to various abiotic and biotic stresses; value-addition of food and non-food products from all parts for coconut utilization or processing at rural and commercial levels; Geographical Information System (GIS) and Trade and Marketing.
The Minister also said that a joint committee from both parties will be formed to recommend procedures and plans, provide guidance, identify activities, review progress and submit reports to the executing agencies, in order to implement the MOU.
The MOU will remain in force for a period of five years.
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