Global trade body urges resilience for Pacific producers

Transcript

Following her visit to Fiji, the head of the International Trade Centre says climate change is having a big impact on the ability of Pacific farmers to supply markets.

The ITC is the joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation and advises and trains producers on how to reach international markets.

Arancha Gonzalez was in Fiji to monitor progress on forging access to markets among ITC's partners.

She told Johnny Blades that planned visits to some parts of Fiji had to be cancelled because of recent flooding.

ARANCHA GONZALEZ: Whether it is because of droughts, whether it is because of cyclones, whether it is because of torrential rains, as I experienced during my stay in Fiji, it's posing very big challenges for the Fijian and the Pacific farmers. And I think the international community has to be very aware of the impact that climate change is having on the small islands. And it needs to contribute to solving the problem, not exacerbating it.    

JOHNNY BLADES: And because the island governments know that they can't wait for the governments of developed countries to do anything about that, what's practically the message you're getting from governments in island countries like Fiji about how they are trying to enable access to international markets for their small scale farmers and so forth?

AG: Well, I had an excellent discussion with the prime minister (Bainimarama) over this point. I think he understands there is a big market out there, that Fiji and small Fijian producers can also contribute to supplying. It has to be not a supply based on quantity. It's going to have to be a supply based on quality, on niche products of high value-added, of good branding, with probably varieties of products and of commodities that are rarer in international markets. But this is possible. This is the work that again the International Trade Centre has done, is doing and will do in Fiji and in other Pacific Island countries. But again, I think we have to be conscious that there are limitations to this, or that there are big downsides to this in the form of climate change. Finally, I think we have to work a little bit in helping the Fijian farmers, and the Fijian business, and the Fijian government in building the resilience of the Fijian economy to withstand these shocks that are coming from severe climate change, that is posing huge challenges for the economy and the social fabric of the islands.

JB: Is the agriculture sector resilient? Obviously cyclones and things like that, they're not new - even though they may be becoming more frequently intense. What's being done to safeguard their (the farmers') future?

AG: Well, I think resilience must mean many different things. They must mean using varieties of seeds that are going to be more resistant to extreme climate conditions. It has to be diversifying production across the islands, so that it's not all concentrated in one place. Supporting the farmer even when the farmer cannot supply temporarily as a result of climate change.