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MISSION STATEMENT
Increase Food Production:
The mission of the Department of Agriculture (DOA) is to promote,
direct, and assist the efforts of American Samoa's farmers to attain a
high level of diversified food production to supply the needs of the
Territory's residents for fresh, good quality, and low-cost food
products, thus reducing the Territory's dependence on imported
foods. Our farmers must be helped to grow a diversity of crops,
not just taros and bananas.
Increase Food Security:
A direct consequence of increased food production is a corresponding
increase in our food security. We are presently importing over 95%
of our food supplies from overseas, and our survival is dependent on the
action of forces that are beyond our control. The recent hike in
oil prices has resulted in increases of food prices in our grocery
stores, because the airlines have increased their freight rates to
compensate for higher fuel costs.
Encourage the Development of Food Processing Capabilities in the Territory:
Diversified food production extends beyond raising crops and livestock
for fresh consumption. We must seek to establish food processing
as a necessary complement to crop production to enlarge the scope of
food production in order to meet the diversity of our food needs.
We can begin this necessary development by processing our own
traditional foods not only for our local market but for markets overseas
where large communities of Samoans and other Pacific Islanders exist,
such as California, Washington, Hawaii, New Zealand, and Australia. |
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CONTACT INFORMATION
DIRECTOR
Apefa'i Taifane
OFFICE NUMBER:
(684) 699-1497
FAX NUMBER:
(684) 699-4031 MAILING
ADDRESS:
American
Samoa Government
Executive Office Building, Utulei
Territory of American Samoa, Pago Pago, AS 96799
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