The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Samoa has officially launched its first Digital Media Hub at the Government’s TATTE Building in Apia, aimed at strengthening public outreach and communication. The purpose-built facility is equipped with modern digital and audiovisual technologies to produce timely, high-quality information and awareness content on food, agriculture, and fisheries. It is designed to enhance the Ministry’s capacity to document results, provide accurate information, and improve transparency across its programs.
The European Union has played a major role in supporting the Hub through its Sustainable Transformation of Domestic Agrifood Systems (STODAS) project in Fiji, Samoa, and the Solomon Islands, with technical assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Complementary support was provided by the Market Development Facility, funded by the Australian Government. Minister Fuimaono Maiava Tito Asafo highlighted that the Hub enhances the Ministry’s ability to deliver accurate agricultural and fisheries information to farmers, fishers, and other stakeholders.
The Digital Media Hub reflects Samoa’s commitment to modernizing communication and engaging with stakeholders through digital platforms and visual storytelling. It is designed to reach all communities, including those with limited internet access, by supporting printed materials, television and radio programming, and complementing existing extension and advisory services. This ensures that vital information reaches rural and remote areas.
Barbara Plinkert, Ambassador of the European Union to the Pacific, emphasized the Hub’s role in empowering farmers and agribusinesses with the knowledge needed to innovate, grow, and contribute to Samoa’s economic development and sustainable food systems. She noted that the Hub represents a dynamic platform for knowledge-sharing and digital innovation, aligned with the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy for connectivity in the Pacific region.
The FAO, as implementing partner of the STODAS project, praised the international cooperation behind the Hub. Guangzhou Qu, FAO Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific Islands, highlighted the importance of ensuring that all communities have access to accurate, timely, and useful information about food, agriculture, and fisheries.
The launch event was attended by representatives from the Australian High Commission, government officials, development partners, and key stakeholders from the agriculture and fisheries sector, marking a milestone in Samoa’s efforts to strengthen digital communication and community engagement in the agrifood sector.
