PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 7:00 PM by Luigi

Fiji drought leaves thousands hungry

SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Times, Feb. 2) - An estimated 5,000 to 8,000 children in the West could drop out of school during the year or face serious health risks if the drought continues, a report by Save the Children Fund Fiji revealed yesterday. The non-government organization is calling on the Ministry of Education to act immediately as any unnecessary delay could only mean more long-term suffering for these children. A two-day drought assessment report, conducted last month, found that the children who were worst affected were from Ba, Tavua and parts of Rakiraki. It found that the harsh and dry conditions, which began in September 2004, had seriously affected farmers in the cane farming and agriculture belt. As a result these farmers were experiencing difficulties in sending their children to school because there was no money for bus fares, lunch, school fees and for books. It found that children who were undernourished in these areas were irritable and had low concentration in c lass because of poor nutrition and irregular water supply. The assessment found that primary school children in most schools were encouraged to share lunches with those who couldn't afford it.



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This weblog documents the activities of Pacific Agricultural Genetic Resources Network (PAPGREN), along with other information on plant genetic resources (PGR) in the Pacific. The myriad varieties found within cultivated plants are fundamental to the present and future productivity of agriculture. PAPGREN, which is coordinated by the Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), helps Pacific countries and territories to conserve their crop genetic diversity sustainably, with technical assistance from the Bioversity International (BI) and support from NZAID and ACIAR. SPC also hosts the Centre of Pacific Crops and Trees (CEPaCT). The CEPaCT maintains regional in vitro collections of crops important to the Pacific and carries out research on tissue culture technology. The CEPaCT Adviser is Dr Mary Taylor (MaryT@spc.int), the CEPaCT Curator is Ms Valerie Tuia (ValerieT@spc.int). 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DIVA-GIS	Wednesday, February 02, 2005 Posted 7:00 PM by Luigi Fiji drought leaves thousands hungry SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Times, Feb. 2) - An estimated 5,000 to 8,000 children in the West could drop out of school during the year or face serious health risks if the drought continues, a report by Save the Children Fund Fiji revealed yesterday. The non-government organization is calling on the Ministry of Education to act immediately as any unnecessary delay could only mean more long-term suffering for these children. A two-day drought assessment report, conducted last month, found that the children who were worst affected were from Ba, Tavua and parts of Rakiraki. It found that the harsh and dry conditions, which began in September 2004, had seriously affected farmers in the cane farming and agriculture belt. As a result these farmers were experiencing difficulties in sending their children to school because there was no money for bus fares, lunch, school fees and for books. It found that children who were undernourished in these areas were irritable and had low concentration in c lass because of poor nutrition and irregular water supply. The assessment found that primary school children in most schools were encouraged to share lunches with those who couldn't afford it. * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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