Tarawa, Kiribati, July 20th , 2022
Recently, the Honorable Minister Ruateki Tekaiara of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development (MELAD), launched the 5-Year Agriculture Action Framework to the Kiribati Agriculture Strategy (KAS).
With support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) of the government of New Zealand and coordinated by Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the Framework was completed by the Agriculture and Livestock Division (ALD) staff and sets the government on a clear, time-bound pathway for achievement of the KAS. The KAS is the document guiding the development of Agriculture in Kiribati. It is the core strategy, drawing together all efforts to improve agriculture productivity, promote economic growth and improve I’Kiribati people’s access to nutritious and tasty food.
As the Honorable Minister Tekaiara said at the launch: “Our census information shows that where there is an uptake of agricultural activity, even planting vegetables for household consumption, there is improved nutrition and household income levels.”
The launch of the 5-Year Agriculture Framework marks the completion of the first activity under the New Zealand-funded Low Emissions Climate Resilient Development (LECRD) program in Kiribati. Agriculture in Kiribati is a sector directly impacted by the effects of climate change. Salt-water intrusion leading to decline in soil and water quality, combined with changes in rainfall patterns, all threaten agricultural production in Kiribati.
The Action Framework has been written to address these challenges and develop a sustainable agriculture sector, in line with the targets set out in the Kiribati 20 Year Vision (KV20). It is a comprehensive plan built in a participative manner which targets actions to improve agricultural production in Kiribati, while also making essential linkages between agriculture, food security, livelihoods, health, and nutrition in the context of climate change related impacts. As such, it contains four chapters and a recommendation section, all of which provide a clear way forward based on a detailed constraint and situation analysis, and a series of in-depth consultations and joint work with all key stakeholders across the sector.
The launch brought together many of the development partners working together in unity to achieve the KAS. MELAD is also working closely with GGGI on the implementation of another related Climate Smart Agriculture activity supported by the Qatar Fund for Development. This work will further strengthen the Agricultural Sector and improve people’s sustainable livelihoods, food security, health, and nutrition in Kiribati. It also reflects MELAD’s ongoing commitment toward building a low emissions and climate resilient economy in Kiribati that will create opportunities for I’Kiribati people impacted most by climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The full version of the action plan can be accessed here.
About the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)
Kiribati is a founding member of GGGI, and has supported the organization’s country program since 2017. Based in Seoul, GGGI is an intergovernmental organization that supports developing country governments transition to a model of economic growth that is environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. GGGI has 43 member countries and delivers technical support, capacity building, policy planning & implementation, and helps to build a pipeline of bankable green investment projects. More on GGGI’s events, projects and publications can be found on here. You can also follow GGGI on Twitter and join us on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.