FSM Information Services
Press Release
FSM’s Department of Resources & Development Enhances Partnerships with Food & Agriculture Organization and International Fund for Agricultural Development
PALIKIR, Pohnpei—The Department of Resources & Development is steadily expanding the capacity of its Division of Agriculture to provide continuous food security to the citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) through the development of an agricultural development proposal in partnership with the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The purpose of the partnership, in part, is to develop a National Agriculture Investment Plan.
The FSM, particularly its out-lying atolls, rely heavily on banana trees and taro patches, the former of which can fall relatively easily in storms that damage food security but may not necessarily result in damage to buildings and other physical infrastructure. The latter could be devastated from salt water intrusion. In other words, while certain Tropical Storms and Typhoons may generate news headlines—such as Typhoon Wutip—even those without attention by local and international media can still cause food security issues to the FSM’s communities.
Beginning on March 14, 2019, the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) issued a special call for proposals for funding food security programs in countries deemed fragile due to risks associated with climate change. The World Bank classifies 24 countries as being fragile in this capacity, of which the FSM is one of five in the Pacific—the others being the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu.
With 100 million dollars available to finance projects under the GAFSP, with proposals assessed on a competitive basis, the FSM National Government was quick to develop and enhance collaborative partnerships to begin developing a National Agriculture Investment Plan, of which a roadmap for such a plan is necessary for the FSM to qualify for GAFSP funding.
On the 10th of July 2019 at the Pohnpei State Government Conference Room in Kolonia, the FSM Department of Resources & Development hosted a stakeholder consultation workshop in collaboration with its FAO and IFAD partners. The objective of the workshop was to discuss with members of the FSM National and FSM State Governments, private sector, and civil society, national investment priorities for agriculture as required for the development of the GAFSP agricultural development proposal.
The FSM Department of Resources & Development wishes to thank all of the following stakeholders and partners that participated: FSM Office of Overseas Development Assistance & Compact Management; FSM Department of Health & Social Affairs; FSM Department of Finance & Administration; FSM Department of Environment, Climate Change, & Emergency Management; FSM Department of Education; FSM Department of Transportation, Communications, & Infrastructure; FSM Association of Chambers of Commerce; Pohnpei State Department of Resources & Development; Micronesia Conservation Trust; College of Micronesia-FSM’s Cooperative Research Extension; Conservation Society of Pohnpei; Pohnpei State’s Department of Treasury & Administration; Pohnpei State’s Office of Fisheries & Aquaculture; Pohnpei Farmers Association; and Pohnpei State’s Environmental Protection Agency.
