October 2017
The Pacific Island Farmers Organisation Network (PIFON) is very proud and equally excited to partner with the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) of Australia in implementing the second phase of the Pacific Agribusiness Research in Development Initiative (PARDI) project. PARDI 2 builds on the achievements of its predecessor, PARDI which was implemented over the period 2010-2015 aimed to provide sustainable livelihood improvements in Pacific island countries (PICs). The FJD 4.2 million (AU$ 2.6 m) project is funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and will be implemented over 4 years to be completed in June 2021.
PIFON has been a part of the project design from its early stages and fully supports its overall objectives, implementing partners and proposed methodology. PIFON believes that farmer organizations have a critical role in agricultural research and extension in the region and as such see PARDI 2 as a unique opportunity to build new partnerships and ensure smallholder farmer engagement throughout PARDI 2 and future ACIAR initiatives.
The overall aim of PARDI 2 is ‘to identify and understand how agribusiness development opportunities can contribute to improved economic growth and livelihoods in the Pacific islands’. This 4 year project will be active in Fiji, Vanuatu and Tonga.
A two-day inception workshop for PARDI 2 was held at the South Sea Orchids conference facility in Nasau, Nadi, Fiji Islands from 25th October.
Approximately 30 participants attended the workshop and included representatives from the various Pacific partners namely, SPC, USP, PIDF, PIPSO and Pacific Island Government Ministries, Australian Government development and trade initiatives such as PHAMA, MDF, M4C, and related donor and NGO activities and agribusinesses (private sector) in the Pacific.
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