Institute for Research, Extension and Training in Agriculture and the School of Agriculture of the University of the South Pacific
Abstract
Agriculture is the mainstay of the rural population of Vanuatu. Obviously, improvements in crop production and exports will enhance standard of living of rural people and help support economic development. In Vanuatu beef, copra, cocoa and kava account for the bulk of export earnings. This study analysed trends in area, production and export of coconut, cocoa and kava crops during the
1991-2012 period. The study revealed that area under cocoa and kava crops has been declining during the study period, while the area under coconut crop was stagnant. The production of cocoa and kava showed negative trends. Copra production also showed a declining trend during the study period. Consequently, exports of cocoa and coconut products were declining during the reference period.
However, exports of kava showed increasing trend but it also in the later part of the study period started declining. Evidently there is a positive relation between quantity of crop produced and exported. Vanuatu’s climate and land are conducive to produce these export-oriented crops, but detailed investigations are required to understand the problems and constraints faced by farmers in crop production, processing and export. In reversing the downward trend of agriculture export sector in
Vanuatu, the integration of production and marketing will prove to be a crucial element of the agricultural
development strategy
