ASSISTANT MINISTER OPM HON. SAKIUSA TUBUNA'S REMARKS AT THE TRADITIONAL FOOD EXHIBITION

Hon. Filimoni Vosarogo, Attorney General and Minister for Justice and Acting Minister for Health and Medical Services;
Ms. Sainiana Rokovucago, CEO, FRIEND;
Mr. Stanley Simpson, Director MaiTV Fiji Limited and Team;
Ms. Elenoa Nimacere, Veikau Eco Lodge owner;
Women representatives from the provinces Rewa, Tailevu & Naitasiri;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
 
Ni sa yadra vinaka, and a very good morning to you all.
 
I am pleased to join you this morning, to co-officiate and speak about food and nutrition security. I must commend the effort put in to prepare the delicacies on display, as well as the promotion and preservation of traditional food-preparation knowledge!!
 
On behalf of the Prime Minister and Government of Fiji, I wish to acknowledge the Friend Fiji for hosting and organizing this exhibition forum.
 
The Exhibition is indeed timely as we have just celebrated the World Food Day on Monday 16th October and is well aligned to the theme “Water is Life, Food is Water, Leave No One Behind.”
 
Today, we are here to showcase our traditional delicacies and the critical role they play in providing food and nutrition security, boosting public health, and honoring our traditional food systems, nutritional improvements, and best agricultural practices.
 
Just to provide a brief on Fiji’s Food System snapshot - crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry are important sources of income, livelihoods and employment. 93% of agriculture farmers are subsistence farmers whilst 5% are semi commercial farmers with at least 1 ha or land for cultivation.
 
Agriculture has been identified as a high-potential sector by all stakeholders since Covid-19. However, for several commodities, inconsistency and poor production and supply during the off season remain an issue. Despite ideal conditions for domestic agriculture, Fiji continues to import where 80% of its rice are imported from Vietnam and Thailand.
 
Traditional diets consist of locally fished marine food eaten with root vegetables such as cassava and taro. However, incidents of increasing less healthy diets have been reported, owing primarily to dramatic increases in inexpensive, processed foods, primarily in urban centers. Yes, these highly processed and less nutritious foods are primarily imported, and in many situations, they are less expensive and non-perishable.
 
According to a study undertaken by Dr Jimaima Lako of FNU.  There is evidence of increasing prevalence of NCD gathered from the reports and publications. The high prevalence may be attributed to the high consumption of readily available imported processed foods, as evident in high imported calories in 2009 at 68% of carbohydrate, 60% protein and 71% fat and lack of physical activity. Importation of cereals especially wheat flour contributed the most calorie intake of carbohydrate may be due to the reduction in local root crop production especially taro and cassava. This may mean that Fiji is only 32%, 40% and 29% self-sufficient in local carbohydrates, proteins and fats respectively which demonstrates high dependency on imported foods which reflect the weak agricultural sector system.
 
Traditional diets and food systems with low environmental consequences contribute to food and nutrition security as well as a healthy life for current and future generations. Fijians are encouraged to have traditional diets and food systems that are sustainable are protective and respectful of biodiversity and ecosystems, accessible, economically equitable and affordable, nutritionally adequate, safe, and healthy.
 
We must connect nutrition to traditional food systems in agriculture, health, the environment, and culture. Production yields, sustainable intensification, and losses in agriculture are exactly as significant as non-communicable diseases (NCDs), food safety, obesity, and micronutrient deficiency.
 
We recognise that this effort necessitates a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach. I continue to advocate for farmers' active participation in the local value chain in order to deliver consistent quality fresh produce to meet market demand and address Fiji's food security challenges.
 
In Fiji, we must recognise the nutritional, economic, social, environmental, and cultural contributions made by our three provinces of Rewa, Tailevu, and Naitasiri through agricultural production, trade as well as through this Traditional Food Exhibition.
 
Yes, I have noticed and am convinced that significant planning and consideration went into the harvesting, processing, cooking, and display of these traditional delights that we are experiencing today, in order to preserve the nutritional value, quality, and safety of the food.
 
At the national level, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture is finalizing the Fiji Policy on Food and Nutrition Security - a whole-of-government policy that we expect to have approved in Cabinet before the end of the year.
 
The Policy prioritizes advocating nutritional issues and mainstreaming them into government decision-making, promotes and sustains household food security, improves national nutritional status, promotes healthy diets and lifestyles, and strengthens collaboration with development partners.
 
Your Coalition Government cannot achieve this alone, and would require the assistance of those of you present this morning in the field of food and nutrition.
 
You see, Ladies and Gentlemen, advocating for and promoting sustainable traditional food systems is a community effort in which we can all contribute and play a role.
 
Your Government will also support training for farmers, fishermen, and agribusinesses/SMEs, with a focus on women and youths, in areas such as value chain development, financial literacy and management, food safety, post-harvest handling, farming techniques, and nutritional analysis.
 
Ladies and gentlemen, this Traditional Food Exhibition is just the beginning of numerous health initiatives and events that will take place in the future.
 
Fiji's food security can only be ensured if we all put the resources at our disposal to good use. We cannot entrust the security of our food to an outside party from outside Fiji. We must ensure that we have control over our food security.
 
Reiterating the call our Prime Minister Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka made earlier this year, calling on all Fijians to make use of any backyard space and plant.
 
At this point, I issue a challenge and call on Fijians to make use of any square meter of land around their house and plant fruits and vegetables to counter the increase in food prices and food and nutrition security concerns.
 
Whilst people are complaining about the ever-increasing cost of living, I believe that some of these burdens could be cushioned if food gardens were encouraged.
 
There is great opportunities for growth and expansion going forward. The agricultural sector is certainly one which we can build one. Our strength is our people and it is through our people that we will create a future that truly leaves no one behind.
 
I wish to thank the participants from the provinces of Naitasiri, Rewa and Tailevu and I wish you best when showcasing the delicacies.
 
Vinaka Vakalevu!