Overview
This project aimed to identify and understand how agribusiness development opportunities can improve economic growth and livelihoods in the Pacific.
A flourishing agribusiness sector is vital for sustainable economic growth in the Pacific Island countries (PICs). It is central to reducing poverty, especially in rural communities, and delivering an improved trade balance, both of which are key goals of Pacific Island governments and their development partners.
Agribusinesses in the PICs have many disadvantages but, despite the challenges, agribusiness has the potential to develop value chains in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors that are more efficient and inclusive, and that take advantage of new opportunities for primary production, value-adding, and marketing.
Building on the Pacific Agribusiness Research for Development Initiative (PARDI), this second phase has looked at the reasons certain agribusinesses have succeeded, documented their positive impacts on community livelihoods and investigated how best to extend and make their economic benefits more inclusive and sustainable.
Project outcomes
- Positive impact on the commercial viability and business growth of at least 10 lead agribusinesses, farmer organisations, and associated value chains.
- New and/or more secure opportunities for potential employment and business development in the agribusiness sector for at least 100 individuals.
- At least two new agribusinesses established and operating in each of the project countries.
- Greater awareness of the benefits and opportunities for agribusiness and its potential to become the mainstay of rural economies.
- Increased knowledge and opportunities lead to greater confidence and an increased desire among rural people, especially youth and women, to participate more fully in agribusiness and other value-adding activities.
- 10 agritourism enterprises were directly supported and enhanced and a further 20 were indirectly.
- 5 honeybee enterprises were directly supported and a further 30 indirectly.
- 2 tilapia enterprises are directly supported and enhanced and a further +10 indirectly through Tilapia Fiji.
