Minister to attend APCC meeting

Submitted by TemoL on Mon, 02/01/2010 - 08:24

The Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) is an intergovernmental organization of 15 major coconut producing countries accounting for over 90% of world coconut production and exports of coconut products.

APCC member countries include the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.

The objectives of the APCC are to promote, coordinate and harmonize all activities of the coconut industry which sustains the lives of millions of small farmers as well as those engaged in production, processing and marketing of coconut products.

These are for the purpose of improving the socio-economic conditions of all stakeholders of the coconut industry in the member countries, particularly the smallholder coconut farmers.

The meeting will cover coconut development Programmes and new policies/legislations adopted in respective countries.

In addition, emphasis will be given to coconut replanting/rehabilitation programmes and strategies to increase coconut farm productivity, farmers’ income, and product diversification.

The meeting will receive and discuss the report and communiqué of the APCC–SPC roundtable meeting on Coconut Industry Development in the Pacific Island countries held in Nadi last June.

Mr Cokanasiga, being the Head of Fiji’s delegation, will present Fiji’s Country Paper at the meeting and will be accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Mason Smith and CIDA representatives.