A variety of activities have been lined up for the inaugural Pacific Week of Agriculture which begins in Port Vila on Monday.
The week-long event is aimed at becoming Pacific's premiere agriculture event on the Pacific calendar and bringing together people from different agriculture sectors to discuss the future of agriculture.
PWA Media and Communications Team Leader, Kiery Manassah said the event will attract more than 2000 people from across the region and internationally.
“All 26 members of Pacific Community (SPC) which includes four metropolitans- Australia, New Zealand, France and US will be at the meeting and represented by the respective Agriculture Ministers and Officials,” he said.
There will be an Agri-Tourism and Trade Fair which will be held at Independence Park.
About 20 partners will host side events as well.
“Trade and Fair Agritourism activities and training will see live cooking demonstrations by local and regionally acclaimed chefs,” said Manassah.
He said with the theme “Culture, Resilience, Opportunities, Products and Sustainability (CROP), the event will look at the potential that agriculture holds for the island economies which are vulnerable to natural disasters such as cyclones.
Farmers and officers from Vanuatu Department of Agriculture and Rural Development also held workshops in preparation for the PWA.
Farmers will be presenting their experiences and opportunities of agritourism during the week and there will be a field visit to the Agritourism model farm - Neleya Eco Farm Enterprise.
Field technicians will promote kava restocking, coconut replanting, root crops, potato, onion, carrot planting, citrus, fruits and vegetables and food security.
The PWA is co-hosted by SPC and FAO and will be held from 16th to 20th October.
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