KEYNOTE ADDRESS Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Hon. Fuimaono Maiava Tito Asafo.
Talofa lava and Good morning to you all.
It is a pleasure to join you this morning, to officially open this Inception Workshop, for the “Transformation of Agrifood Systems through Smart Agriculture in Samoa” project, supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
At the sincere outset, I wish to express, on behalf of the Government of Samoa, our appreciation to the GEF and FAO for their ongoing partnership, and acknowledge the collaboration of all our national partners, and stakeholders in this important initiative. Agriculture remains at the heart of Samoa’s economy and our way of life. It sustains our families, feeds our nation, and preserves our culture and traditions.
However, the sector faces growing challenges, from limited diversification and outdated processing systems, to increasing climate impacts that continue to disrupt production and rural livelihood. Today’s event is a historic milestone for Samoa’s agriculture sector. For the first time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is leading its own dedicated GEF project.
In past GEF cycles, agriculture was often addressed through broader environmental projects, under the focal Ministry, or through regional initiatives by CROP agencies. This new project recognizes agriculture as a key driver of both environmental sustainability and national resilience.
From the concept note and brief background information, the GEF-8 Smart Agriculture Project aims to transform our agrifood systems, by strengthening the livestock subsector, improving productivity, and promoting climate-smart and gender-responsive farming practices. It will also enhance market access, financing, and digital advisory services to empower our farmers and communities.
This workshop is an important first step.
I encourage all of you, government agencies, community representatives, farmers, private sector, and development partners, to engage fully, share openly, and help shape a project that reflects the true needs, and meaningful results for our people and environment.
Transforming our agrifood systems is not just about production, it is about protecting our land, improving nutrition, and securing a better future for every Samoan household. With that, it is my honour to officially declare open the Inception Workshop for the “Transformation of Agrifood Systems through Smart Agriculture in Samoa” project.
Soifua ma ia Manuia.
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