The agriculture sector of island countries in the Pacific have the ability to assist their government in economic forecasting and planning.

This can be achieved through improving their statistical systems under the new Pacific Strategic Plan.

This was one of the outcomes of the 27th Session of Asia Pacific Commission on Agricultural Statistics (APCAS) which concluded in Nadi yesterday following a successful week of deliberations.

APCAS Chair and Agriculture Ministry permanent secretary David Kolitagane says the onus is now on island states to take ownership.

Kolitagane says with Fiji chairing APCAS over the next two years, it will be in the interest of island states to consolidate their actions for statistical requirements.

He adds one of the positives of the 27th APCAS is the agreement in principle for island states to form a working committee that will voice assistance to island governments on their statistical needs.

Another approach is to assist island states in the use of new technologies and methodologies that will really boost the work of statistical data gathering.