Washington, D.C. –  Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the American Samoa Department of Agriculture (ASDOA) and the benefit of local farmers. Congress authorized this funding program in a recent Congress (the 115th) as part of the bipartisan reauthorization of the major 2018 Farm Bill.

This grant for American Samoa is one of just 50 nationwide announced Wednesday by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN). This federal program supports projects that provide stress assistance for people in farming, ranching, and agriculture-related occupations. The effort also supports improving behavioral health awareness, literacy, and more favorable outcomes for these food providers and their families.

“This is great work locally by the American Samoa Agriculture Department to qualify for these helpful funds, and work on this further assistance for any of our people that need this program,” Amata said. “Congratulations to Director Solialealofiotagaloa Iosua Tasi Mutini and the entire department.”

This ASDOA Farmers De-stress and Prevention Assistance Grant is based on the shipment costs, supply strain, and other barriers associated with the pandemic and its various restrictions putting stress on the population. This effort provides basic aid and facilitates assistance, providing information regarding mental health concerns and other help in the agriculture community.

“Our American Samoa farmers and growers raise our bananas, coconuts, taro, papayas, breadfruit, sweet potatoes and more, and we appreciate all they do so these healthy foods can be readily available,” Amata concluded. “Thank you to the USDA and Secretary Tom Vilsack for including American Samoa.”