APIA, Samoa – The PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU) today handed over 180
harvesting bins to Samoa’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
The harvesting bins will assist Samoan farmers by minimizing post-harvest damage and loss
of produce harvested for export. Loss and damage of harvested commodities at the farm
and during transportation to cleaning and processing facilities is one of the major challenges
and prevailing issues for local produce prepared for export. This is mainly due to lack of
appropriate containers or bins used to transport produce from farm to processing and
cleaning facilities.
“We’re here to support Samoa and other PACER Plus parties in minimizing post-harvest
damage and loss. This will result in increasing exportable volume of local produce which
would support our families and communities as well as stimulate business activity in
Samoa,” said Mr. Roy Lagolago, Head of the PPIU. This support is part the PPIU’s Sanitary
and Phytosanitary-related technical assistance and capacity building activities to PACER Plus
Parties.
Samoa’s Associate Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Maiava Fuimaono Tito Asafo
expressed his gratitude to PPIU.
“Agriculture is a crucial industry in Samoa. We are, therefore, grateful for the commitment
from partners such as the PACER Plus Implementation Unit towards the development of the
agriculture sector and the support of our farmers,” said Mr. Asafo.
PACER Plus is a regional development-centered trade and investment agreement aligned
with the Sustainable Development Goals. The Agreement is designed to support Pacific
Island countries to stimulate economic growth by becoming more active partners in, and
benefit from, regional and global trade.
Nine countries are currently parties to the Agreement: Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, New
Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Tuvalu.