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Victoria Milko
This July 2020 photo provided by Fiji s Ministry of Agriculture shows a vegetable garden at the Suva Christian School in Suva, Fiji. Coronavirus infections have barely touched many of the remote islands of the Pacific, but the pandemicâs fallout has been enormous, disrupting the supply chain that brings crucial food imports and sending prices soaring as tourism wanes. (Fiji Ministry of Agriculture via AP) December 28, 2020 - 7:36 PM
JAKARTA, Indonesia - Coronavirus infections have barely touched many of the remote islands of the Pacific, but the pandemicâs fallout has been enormous, disrupting the supply chain that brings crucial food imports and sending prices soaring as tourism wanes.
Covid-19 coronavirus: Pacific Islands work to offset food shortages
28 Dec, 2020 07:50 AM
5 minutes to read
AP
Coronavirus infections have barely touched many of the remote islands of the Pacific, but the pandemic s fallout has been enormous, disrupting the supply chain that brings crucial food imports and sending prices soaring as tourism wanes.
With a food crisis looming, many governments have begun community initiatives to help alleviate shortages: extending fishing seasons, expanding indigenous food gathering lessons and bolstering seed distribution programs that allow residents greater self-reliance. We initially started with 5,000 seeds and thought we would finish them in nine months time. But there was a very big response, and we finished distributing the seeds in one week, said Vinesh Kumar, head of operation for Fiji s Agriculture Ministry.
2020/12/28 12:10 This July 2020 photo provided by Fiji s Ministry of Agriculture shows staff members of the Suva Christian School, Louisa John, left, and her colleague. This July 2020 photo provided by Fiji s Ministry of Agriculture shows staff members of the Suva Christian School, Louisa John, left, and her colleague working in their garden in Suva, Fiji. Coronavirus infections have barely touched many of the remote islands of the Pacific, but the pandemic’s fallout has been enormous, disrupting the supply chain that brings crucial food imports and sending prices soaring as tourism wanes. (Fiji Ministry of Agriculture via AP) This July 2020 photo provided by Fiji s Ministry of Agriculture shows a vegetable garden at the Suva Christian School in Suva, Fiji. Coronavirus infec.
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Coronavirus infections have barely touched many of the remote islands of the Pacific, but the pandemic’s fallout has been enormous, disrupting the supply chain that brings crucial food imports and sending prices soaring as tourism wanes.
With a food crisis looming, many governments have begun community initiatives to help alleviate shortages: extending fishing seasons, expanding indigenous food gathering lessons, and bolstering seed distribution programs that allow residents greater self-reliance.
“We initially started with 5,000 seeds and thought we would finish them in nine months’ time. But there was a very big response, and we finished distributing the seeds in one week,” said Vinesh Kumar, head of operation for Fiji’s Agriculture Ministry.