Vanuatu Urged to Boost Local Food Production Before Export Push, Says Agriculture Minister

Port Vila, Vanuatu — Vanuatu’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Biosecurity, Hon. Ian Wilson, has called on farmers and stakeholders to significantly increase local food production before the country moves forward with export ambitions, underscoring concerns about food security and disaster resilience.

Speaking at the opening of the First National Commercial Commodity Forum in Luganville, Minister Wilson highlighted that Vanuatu currently does not produce enough small livestock, root crops, cattle, or fish to adequately sustain communities — especially during natural disasters or emergencies.

“Vanuatu is not producing enough small livestock, root crops, cattle, or fish to support communities during disasters. Farmers need to step up, and government must support them,” Minister Wilson said.

Tackling Food Security and Health Challenges

The minister stressed that the country’s reliance on imported food — particularly dry rations and processed goods — worsens public health outcomes, contributing to poor nutrition and the rise of non-communicable diseases. He noted that 15% of persons living with disabilities in Vanuatu are linked to lifestyle-related health issues tied to diet.

To reverse this trend, Wilson emphasised the need for a shift in agricultural priorities, calling for more focused strategies to support production of pigs, chickens, goats and other small livestock alongside traditional root crops.

 Planning for the Future

The National Commercial Commodity Forum, which runs from 1–10 October 2025 in Luganville and will continue in Port Vila from 13–18 October, aims to review existing sector policies and develop a roadmap to strengthen domestic production over the next five years.

Draft strategies from the forum will be presented to the Council of Ministers and shared with donors in early 2026, with the goal of aligning external support with Vanuatu’s own priorities rather than donor-driven agendas.

“We used to worry most about markets,” Wilson said. “But today the challenge is production. Farmers need government, and government needs farmers for a better Vanuatu.”

 A Call for Strengthened Local Agriculture

Minister Wilson’s remarks signal a strategic pivot toward reinforcing domestic food systems before scaling up export pathways. This approach reflects broader concerns about Vanuatu’s vulnerability to natural disasters and global shocks, highlighting the urgent need to build resilient local food production capacity that can sustain communities before pursuing overseas markets.