Technical Brief: The agriculture-nutrition-income nexus in Fiji
Year of Publication: 2019-08-28
Description
Agriculture in Fiji contributes 9% of gross domestic product and absorbs 40% of the labour force. Over 70% of the population is engaged in subsistence and semi subsistence agriculture. Insufficient production capacity, inconsistent quality and limited knowledge of the nutrient and health benefits make local fruits, root crops, seafood and vegetables uncompetitive. Non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of death (77%).
About 70% of the population is either overweight or obese; the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension is rising. Anemia is a public health issue and dietary diversity is poor. Only about 1% of the 33,000 registered farmers in Fiji are female. Numerous policies, programmes and organisations shape the agriculture-nutrition- income agenda but with mixed results and very limited impact.
This technical brief analyses the policy and institutional framework, agriculture, food and nutrition challenges and opportunities and provides concrete recommendations to strengthen the agriculture-nutrition-income nexus.