China will send 36 agricultural experts and technicians specialized in agronomy, irrigation, livestock and fisheries, to eight Pacific Island nations, FAO recently announced. The initiative is part of FAO's South-South Co-operation Programme that aims to strengthen co-operation among developing countries to improve agricultural productivity and ensure access to food for all. (Source: FAO)

This agreement, signed early in July, will benefit farmers in the Cool Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. This initiative is part of a broader programme to boost food security in the Pacific region which Italy has already supported with a US$ 4.5 million grant.

The South-South Co-operation Programme is part of FAO's Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS). The SPFS aims to improve the food security situation of some of the world's poorest countries by rapidly increasing food production, improving people's access to food and reducing their vulnerability to climatic events such as drought and floods. Today, the SPFS is operational in 100 countries.

This time, the Chinese will work on projects to improve water management, increase crop and small animal production and promote aquaculture and artisanal fisheries. Four regional experts will be based in Samoa, and 32 field technicians - four for each country - will work alongside local experts over a two-year period.

For further information, write to nuria.felipesoria@fao.org