Covid-19 has exposed what many experts have warned that the high dependence on imported goods exposes countries, particularly developing countries, to food shortage in the event of a global shortage.

The Covid-19 has shown how health and food systems are linked to one another, and how a pandemic can affect global food supply. Lockdowns and movement restrictions across borders have disrupted global food supply, although there are signs of recovery.

For Solomon Islands food security remains a huge priority for the government, and work is continuing to ensure that our people are secure.

“During the start of the pandemic there was panic around the globe about the impact it will have on food production and supply. The threat on food security is still a great concern because of the continuing increasing numbers of Covid-19 positive cases causing further restrictions on people’s movements.

“These restrictions exposed our heavy reliance on imports. We cannot afford to be depending on other countries to feed our own people any more. We have to invest and build our own food reserves. We have to be self-reliant,” Hon. Filualea said during the recent sitting of Parliament.

He says his ministry is looking at new opportunities to ensure that the country’s food and nutritional security requirements are met, and this must involve growing the sector.

“The sector needs to reach its full potential, to raise our national income and become the leading export earner in the country, and at the same time address our secondary objectives of improving the livelihood in our rural communities and creating employment opportunities,” Filualea added.

The ministry has supported many private businesses with much needed capital to grow its production levels. This is part of its policy in raising the sectors production capacity – this ensures that there is good supply of local root crops and exporting surplus to international markets.

With MAL Media