SUVA (Radio NZ International/Pacific Media Watch): Pacific Island nations need help in building resilient economies in the face of climate change, says the head of the International Trade Centre, Arancha Gonzalez
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.
Following a visit to Fiji, Gonzalez identified climate change as being the biggest challenge to Pacific farmers being able to access international markets.
Gonzalez's planned visit was compromised by the recent flooding.
But she had discussions with Fiji's Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, who she said was taking the issue of climate change seriously, reports RNZ International.
"I think we need 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."
Gonzalez said the Fiji government understood the ways Fiji producers could supply the world market.
Niche products
She said increasingly it had to be a supply based, not on quantity but on quality, meaning niche products, high value-added with good branding, with varieties that were rare in international markets.
Gonzalez also visited some companies, associated with the ITC, in Navua, which were exporters of ginger and value-added products.
She was scheduled to visit projects in Ra province but this was cancelled because of the flooding.
"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," she said.
"And I think the international community has to be very aware of the impact that climate change is having on the small islands."
Arancha Gonzalez said the international community needed to contribute to solving the problem not to exacerbating it.
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