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.
