FOOD SECURITY IN THE PACIFIC
Food security in the Pacific…
The Pacific region has rich natural resources. It supports its major economic enterprises. These are mostly in agriculture, fishing, timber and trade. Thus far, tourism is the fastest growing sector in the Pacific. It depends on the ecological endowment of the region. So, in the agriculture sector subsistence farming and cash crop production coexist.
There has been considerable achievements in economic development throughout the region. In fact, achievements in human development, social advancement and ecological resource management are concerning. There are many concerns that dominate the human development. It is a substantial effect on food security. Particularly with women’s position to achieve and maintain household food security. Women have valuable contribution to the food economy. Thus, it has flow-on effect to the food security. They have productive duties as producers, marketers and buyers. So far, they lack recognition and professional development.
Pacific region
The Pacific region consist of seven developing countries. These include Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Western Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and the Cook Islands. The region consists of Australia and New Zealand too which are developed nations. Thus far, in recent times their economies are inevitably tied.
All countries experience a declining agriculture production in recent years. So, the traditional subsistence sector degenerates. Thus, it affects household access to food basket. It affects the national food security too. Similarly, subsistence and commercial fishery coexist. Nevertheless agriculture, tourism and agriculture products will continue to growth enterprises for the foreseeable future. In fact, they will be the major development drivers.
In addition, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have significant mineral resources. Fiji’s sugar industry has been instrumental to expand into a more diversified economy. So far, for other developing islands semi-subsistence economies exist.
Developing nations
The developing nations use bulk of agriculture for domestic needs. However, a significant quantity allocates to export market. Agriculture is dominant for these countries in comparison to Australia and New Zealand. In recent times, agriculture produce dominates export trade. It is followed by ocean and forest resources. There are serious concerns for sustainable development. Exports are heavily dependent on natural resources. They mostly export cash crop commodities. Most commodities are labour intensive to process. These include palm oil, copra, coconut oil, vanilla, coffee and cocoa.
Women workers dominate the labour-intensive cash crop processing.
Thus far, cereal imports are increasing in most developing countries. In fact, in Fiji food aid in cereal has increased considerably. So, in this scenario with growing cereal imports food security is an increasing concern. Especially in the countries where roots crops was a staple diet. In fact, it is impacting root crop availability or unavailability.
Food security
Food security defines as the capacity of the household to procure a stable and sustainable basket of enough food. So, this is at household level. To procure this a family must have access to a farming system. Thus far, household’s access to all ‘food basket’ means on particular economic and social conditions. So, it may be beyond the farming systems that determines household food security. For example, trade exchanges and labour migration affect household food security in the island nations. This includes such trade between island nations with Australia and New Zealand too.
In individual households, food security is a daily concern of consumption. Thus, intrahousehold resource allocation. Women play multiple and important roles. In fact, they are integral to these household resource concerns. Thus far, each household strives to fulfil the demand. They will work to obtain adequate, available and affordable food. It fulfils the needs of family members.
Resource seeking functions
Household food security is a function of the resource seeking. It is resource allocation habit of the family members. Globally, women play critical role in the intrahousehold resource nexus. So, women in the Pacific island countries are no exception. Pacific island women produce through home gardening and subsistence fishing. Therefore, fish and taro processing and informal food sales are all resource-seeking tasks. They all contribute to the household food gathering.
Thus far, some households often lack the productive resources to produce food. They may lack the economic resources too. So often, they are normally in marginal sectors of the community. So, they may have challenges to obtain food through the market system. Hence, in turn, it may lead to a tenuous food security situation.
Normally inadequate public transportation may affect access to food. Sometimes, it may be the ignorance of the public food distribution system. It may be with certain subgroups in the society.
