Neo-traditional approaches for ensuring food security in Fiji Islands

The islands of Fiji are in a phase of transformation from polyculture to commercially oriented monoculture farming systems. The issue of food security has emerged as a major concern, exacerbated by vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters. A high dependence on imported processed food has resulted in problems of hidden hunger and non-communicable diseases. Traditionally, the diversity of landraces, wild food sources, food preservation practices, indigenous land preparation methods, teitei gardens and food tree species in agroforestry ensured food security. Colonialism, globalization, rural-urban migration, change in the structure of social organization and the lure of white collared jobs, have gradually eroded these Traditional Knowledge Systems (TKS). The commercial interests of the business and political elites have popularised a narrow spectrum of high yielding cash crops accelerating the pace of agrodeforestation. Current policies have an overbearing focus on conventional farming and marginalise the importance of traditional knowledge and nutritious diets. A neo-traditional approach to farming by the conservation of valuable landraces and community seed banks, promoting local food crops, organic farming and developing synergies between farming and the burgeoning tourism sector are key strategies which may revive the food security of the island people.