Pacific Agribusiness Research for Development Initiative (PARDI)
Background
Significant challenges face Pacific island countries (PICs) in improving livelihoods and overcoming poverty - in particular, food and fuel price surges in 2008, the impact of the global economic crisis, a number of natural disasters, difficulties maintaining infrastructure and the negative effects of climate change. PICs and international agencies acknowledge that the way to meet many of these challenges is to improve competitiveness of industries and thus provide a platform for stronger economic growth. This project studied issues particularly affecting food production and agricultural sector development. These included isolation from key growth markets and limited coordination of supply chains.
The PARDI research program sought to promote sustainable livelihood outcomes for South Pacific households. The project involved collaborative teams of researchers from NGOs, government agencies, universities and private enterprises. The Centre for Global Food and Resources focused their activities on value chain analysis and market-driven research to identify constraints that impede local economic development. The tangible outcomes of this research was then communicated to all stakeholders for better policy and program outcomes.
PARDI was funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and had a geographical focus on Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga and Kiribati.
Project objectives
The objectives of this project were to:
- Identify markets and supply chains that have the potential to deliver substantial livelihood benefits to Pacific island peoples.
- Identify researchable constraints that limit the ability of these market chains to be more competitive.
- Develop research-based and product-oriented interventions that enable identified supply chains to overcome these constraints.
- Develop and apply appropriate methodologies to evaluate how PARDI activities and interventions contribute to sustainable and efficient supply chains, improve livelihoods and increase our understanding of the factors underpinning competitiveness in Pacific Island supply chains.
- Build agribusiness growth, leadership and change capabilities of PIC communities to ensure the viability and sustainability of PARDI-driven activities and programs.
Project materials
Videos:
- Creating better livelihoods for South Pacific farming families
- Supporting the vital role of South Pacific women
- Fiji farmers to benefit from postharvest research
- Fiji breadfruit - from home gardens to productive orchards
Presentations:
- PARDI Impact workshop November 2015: Teak project overview
- PARDI Impact workshop November 2015: Tamarind project overview
- PARDI Impact workshop June 2015: Changing consumers and modern food retailing on the local horticultural value chain in Fiji
Written outputs:
Project partners
Collaborating institutions:
- University of Queensland, Australia
- University of the South Pacific
- Secretariat of the Pacific Community
- James Cook University, Australia
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia
- Queensland Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia
In addition, The Centre for Global Food and Resources worked closely with:
- Alternative Communities Trade in Vanuatu (ACTIV)
- UN Women
- Vanuatu Department of Trade and Industry, Vanuatu
- Fiji Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries & Forests, Fiji
- Bureau of Statistics offices across the Pacific
Funding:
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR project AGB/2008/044), 2009-2015
Contact
GFAR researchers involved in this project:
- Mr Craig Johns
- Prof Randy Stringer
- Prof Wendy Umberger
- Mr Theo Simos