$10 million to boost agribusiness in the Pacific

Canarium nut is one of the high value crops to be evaluated

Australia will provide $10 million over four years to improve marketing opportunities and boost agribusiness in the Pacific through the Pacific Agribusiness Research for Development Initiative.

The initiative will underpin the development of high-value agricultural, fisheries and forestry products in Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji, with expansion into Tonga, Samoa and Kiribati.

Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan made the announcement at the Pacific Conference on the Human Face of the Global Economic Crisis in Vanuatu. Read Mr McMullan's media release: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/media/release.cfm?BC=Media&ID=9478_5503_9333_42...

The initiative provides a platform for stronger economic growth in the Pacific, and will substantially improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. It incorporates commodity, supply chain, marketing and capacity-building initiatives to ensure Pacific communities gain the skills and knowledge to enable Pacific businesses to grow.

ACIAR Agribusiness Research Program Manager, David Shearer, said pearls and canarium nut are two of the high-value products to receive initial attention, along with improving the supply chain competitiveness of the breadfruit industry. Listen to an interview with Mr Shearer on Radio National's Pacific Beat program, in which he explains the concept of "Value Chain Research": http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201002/s2815188.htm

The ACIAR initiative will be delivered through a partnership of Australian and Pacific island agencies.

Pacific partners

Secretariat of Pacific Community, University of the South Pacific, national agricultural, forestry and marine departments, National Agricultural Research Systems.

Australian partners

University of Queensland, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (Queensland), University of Adelaide, University of the Sunshine Coast, James Cook University and Rural Solutions, SA.