UN Women has donated FJ$10,000 worth of seeds to support home gardening and improve food security among vulnerable households across Fiji.
The seeds were handed to the Ministry of Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry at its headquarters in Raiwaqa.
The initiative aims to assist families grow fresh food, reduce household expenses and strengthen their ability to respond to future shocks.
Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry, Dr Andrew Tukana, said the contribution would support local food production and access to nutritious meals.
"Today's seed handover is about more than simply providing planting materials," Dr Tukana said.
"It is about nurturing resilience, strengthening self-reliance, and cultivating hope for many households."
The Ministry is encouraging families to make productive use of available land through home gardening as part of wider efforts to strengthen sustainable food systems.
Home gardens can provide households with regular access to vegetables while reducing their reliance on purchased food.
The donation will be coordinated through the Food Security and Livelihood Cluster, which brings together government agencies, development partners, civil society organisations and humanitarian groups.
The cluster supports home gardening, livelihood restoration, disaster preparedness and sustainable agricultural development.
It also helps coordinate resources and assistance for communities facing food security challenges.
UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office Representative, Alison Miriam Davidian, said growing food at home remained an established practice in many communities.
"Growing food at home is not a new initiative - it is a tradition, passed down through generations of families and communities living close to the land," she said.
"A home garden puts fresh vegetables within reach, saves money, and gives families more control over what they eat and when."
The seed funding was provided through the Markets for Change program with support from the Australian Government.
The program supports women and vulnerable households through initiatives intended to improve food production and livelihood opportunities.
The Ministry said it would continue working with development partners and other organisations to improve food and nutrition security across Fiji.
