MINISTERIAL DIRECTIVE:

Declaring the Year of 2022 as “The Year of Keled a Ngercheled (Our Food is Our Responsibility)”

WHEREAS, Food Systems play a significant role in Palau’s economy, society, and daily lives; and

WHEREAS, Palau faces an era of unprecedented threats to our Food Security, making us more vulnerable to climate change and global economic and health shocks; and

WHEREAS, Palau is dependent on imported foods and our preferences have moved away from healthy, nourishing, culturally-important local foods; and

WHEREAS, Palau has strong cultural traditions for food, fishing, and agriculture; and

WHEREAS, we as a People recognize that achieving Sustainable Food Systems starts at home, and that Keled a Ngercheled (Our Food is Our Responsibility); and

WHEREAS, the People of Palau welcome opportunities for cooperation and coordination across sectors and boundaries to share expertise and increase our own efforts towards sustainable Food Systems; and

WHEREAS, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Environment is mandated in 2 PNCA § 120 to be responsible for the promotion, exploration, exploitation, development, and management of the natural resources of the Republic, including marine and fisheries, agriculture, aquaculture, forests, mineral and other terrestrial and marine resources; as well as the protection and management of the environment; and for other related matters.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Steven Victor, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Environment in the Republic of Palau, in the interest of protecting the Food Security of the Palauan people, hereby declare 2022 as the “Year of Keled a Ngercheled (Our Food is Our Responsibility),” and direct the Ministry to implement #KeledANgercheled and #Respect Producers and #BuyLocal initiatives with a cooperative and coordinated society-wide approach to ensure Sustainable Food Systems and lasting Food Security.

Approved By:

Minister Steven Victor

MAFE

March 3, 2022