Richard Butler | Exclusive Report by DAILY POST VU | 7TH DECEMBER, 2025
As government institutions conclude their activities for the year, the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Antoine Ravo, reflects on 2024 in the productive sector.
The DARD’s mission is to improve livelihoods through the promotion of agricultural innovations in smallholder farming communities, aiming to increase food and cash crop production capacity and mitigate climate change-related risks to food security.
The 2024 Business Plan was primarily guided by the Government of Vanuatu’s Sustainable Development Plan 2016-2030 (NSDP), the Overarching Productive Sector Policy (2020-2030), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity (MALFFB) Corporate Plan 2022-2025.
The DARD is also guided by the Vanuatu Agriculture Sector Policy 2015-2030, the Organic Policy, the Gudfala Kakae policy, the MALFFB Gender Equality Action Plan, and individual strategies such as the Coconut Strategy, the Kava Strategy, the Cacao Strategy, the Fruits and Vegetables Strategy, the Coffee Development Strategy, the Seed Systems Strategy, the Framework for the Reintegration of Agricultural Workers in Labour Mobility Schemes, and the Vanuatu Agricultural Research and Technical Centre 2023–2027 (VARTC) Strategic Plan.
Agriculture Act Amendment
“One of the major achievements of 2024 was the passage of the Agriculture Act Amendment by Parliament,” said Director Ravo.
“This legislation will play a key role in advancing the development of commercial and semi-commercial production in Vanuatu. Among its main provisions, the amended Act introduces a permit system, modelled after successful frameworks in the tourism and industrial sectors, to regulate and support agricultural activities.”
The Act also includes measures to encourage the shift from subsistence to semi-commercial and commercial agriculture. It establishes systems to promote investment in the sector and addresses the pressing need for better access to finance, a challenge frequently raised by farmers. The amended Act will also support the creation of governance structures to promote a more sustainable food system, including the development of seed systems and the promotion of organic production.
Policy Development
“This year, we have continued to strengthen the policy framework that will guide the development of the agriculture sector, focusing on both food security and commercial production,” the DARD Director said.
“In response to the growing commercial potential of root crops, traditionally a subsistence crop, the Department launched a Root Crop Strategy in 2024. The strategy outlines priorities aimed at boosting production, improving access, and affordability for both domestic consumption and the export market.”
Vanuatu also hosted the Regional Kava Strategy Validation meeting in 2024, in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and the Pacific Islands Forum.
Launch of the first report from the Agriculture Census
In 2024, DARD, in partnership with the Vanuatu Bureau of Statistics (VBoS), launched the first data set from the long-awaited 2022 Agricultural Census, the first since the last census in 2007.
Supporting improved services through decentralisation
To enhance extension services in the provinces, the year began with an Extension Forum held in Santo, bringing together all DARD extension officers and senior management. This forum allowed for strengthening key skills and promoting alignment and coordination in extension services.
“The Department remains committed to supporting the Government’s decentralisation objectives by improving services across the provinces,” said Mr. Ravo.
This is reflected in efforts to expand the workforce, with a new DARD staff structure approved to bolster provincial services. In 2024, 13 new staff members were successfully recruited, and the recruitment process to fill additional positions will continue into 2025.
In 2024, the Department provided farming tools and equipment in all provinces at subsidised prices. It also provided primary processing toolkits in all provinces at subsidised prices, and worked with public-private working groups in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Commerce. DARD facilitated various training sessions, including the first Mushroom Technology Training. Additionally, the Department initiated work on a new business plan reporting system. In collaboration with ACTIV, PHAMA Plus, and the Vanuatu Primary Producers Authority (VPPA), DARD also piloted the Cacao Shared Factory concept.
Major events in 2024 included the Small Island Mini-Agriculture Show (SIMAS) in TORBA and Epi, World Food Day in Tanna on 7 October, and the Kava Festival in Santo on 28 November.
Challenges
Director Ravo acknowledged the challenges faced this year, starting with the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) incursion in Santo.
“The liquidation of Air Vanuatu, the lack of available air travel, and the associated rise in shipping prices limited inter-island movement of staff and resources,” he said.
He also listed delays in the release of government cash flow warrants and the need to improve the revenue collection system.
Major Projects
In 2024, several major projects aligned with DARD Business Plan targets were completed, including supporting agricultural water through irrigation, with support from the Italian Government. Additionally, food security and resilience were boosted through backyard gardening projects in Luganville and Santo, supported by the Asian Development Bank. Home gardening support was provided in Pentecost and Tanna, through partners like CARE, Live and Learn, ActionAid, and the Vanuatu Community Climate Change Resilience Project, supported by Save the Children.
Furthermore, the final activities of the 5-year-long Vanuatu Value Chain (VaVaC) project, funded under EDF11, were successfully completed.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to all our farmers and development partners for their unwavering support and collaboration throughout the year,” said Director Ravo.
“Together, we have advanced the agricultural sector, enhanced food security, and driven sustainable development across Vanuatu.
“Your dedication, expertise, and partnership have been crucial in helping us navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that have shaped this year. As we look back on our achievements, we are reminded that these successes would not have been possible without your continued commitment to our shared goals.”
