Growing food at home is being promoted as a critical response to address Fiji’s malnutrition and food insecurity issues. Sashi Kiran, the Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection, shared these insights at the National Farmers Awards in Nadi. She lauded the farmers as “champions of change” responsible for driving food production, boosting national health, empowering women, and fostering climate-smart innovations. Kiran emphasized that malnutrition remains a significant crisis in Fiji, impacting 80 percent of children under the age of two and half of all school-aged children.
Encouraging families to cultivate nutritious crops at home is proposed as a sustainable, long-term solution to this crisis. The Minister also commended the Ministry of Agriculture’s new Non-Sugar Crop Policy and confirmed the government’s plans to increase women’s involvement in commercial agriculture to at least 40 percent in line with the Women’s Economic Empowerment Action Plan for 2025-2030.
These initiatives align with broader efforts in Fiji to tackle food system challenges by prioritizing local food security alongside export goals. Previous reports have highlighted tension between exporting crops for revenue and the need for domestic food security, emphasizing a heavy reliance on imported produce and suggesting that a more balanced approach is necessary. Furthermore, the importance of coordinated efforts across sectors to support local farmers has been underlined. Such a shift aims to reduce reliance on imports, enhance agricultural productivity, and ultimately lead to improved nutrition and health outcomes for Fijians.
Fiji’s recent agricultural successes include saving $17 million in import costs by decreasing fresh goods imports and increasing exports. This progress showcases a positive trend towards reducing dependency on imports while supporting local agriculture through initiatives like the Farm to Fork program, which enhances sustainability by sourcing ingredients locally.
In conclusion, through the emphasis on home food production and strategic agricultural policies, Fiji is taking significant steps toward achieving food security and improving public health. The commitment to empowering women within the agricultural sector and fostering collaborative efforts highlights a future where Fiji can leverage its local resources to build a sustainable and resilient food system, potentially ensuring a healthier population and a robust, self-sufficient economy.
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