PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 6:24 PM by Luigi

Vanuatu root crop production up

By The Independent
Posted Sunday, January 30, 2005

Over the past four years since the launching of "yia blong aelan kakae" in 2001 the chamber of commerce has reported significant growth in root crop production.

In 2002 the quantity of root crops recorded from small scale commercial farming and export of agricultural products totalled 148 tons, which equalled VT19 million. In 2004 the tonnage tripled to 411 tons, to the value of VT82 million.

This indicated a very positive results with existing prospects in years ahead for further growth and expansion in selected food crops such as casava, dry land taro, taro Fiji and yams.
The encouraging sign was the new stream of income with direct benefits now reaching farmers through the sale of their produce.

Behind the root crop production increase is a lot of time and effort spent on various program activities jointly undertaken by the chamber of commerce and the department of agriculture over the years. This involved farmers' field day training programs conducted monthly, the publication of relevant technical handbooks, radio and TV programs, production promotions through the agriculture and trade show, liaison with processors and exporters and overseas importers, provinces and farmers.

Three of the biggest contributors to this increase in production of root crops and agricultural products are Jubilee Farm and export company Lacalex Ltd, both in Santo, and Vanuatu Fresh in Port Vila, a processor and exporter.

According to estimates the yield for 2005 could double that of 2004 after the Business Forum set specific targets of 3000 tons for taro, 1000 tons for casava and 1000 tons for yams. The national program activities now being designed aim to achieve these targets by 2007, hopefully generating an estimated return of more than VT1 billion in foreign exchange earnings.

Priority also took into consideration production to meet local demand for root crops and depended largely on educating farmers to think on both levels.



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DIVA-GIS	Sunday, January 30, 2005 Posted 6:24 PM by Luigi Vanuatu root crop production up By The Independent Posted Sunday, January 30, 2005 Over the past four years since the launching of "yia blong aelan kakae" in 2001 the chamber of commerce has reported significant growth in root crop production. In 2002 the quantity of root crops recorded from small scale commercial farming and export of agricultural products totalled 148 tons, which equalled VT19 million. In 2004 the tonnage tripled to 411 tons, to the value of VT82 million. This indicated a very positive results with existing prospects in years ahead for further growth and expansion in selected food crops such as casava, dry land taro, taro Fiji and yams. The encouraging sign was the new stream of income with direct benefits now reaching farmers through the sale of their produce. Behind the root crop production increase is a lot of time and effort spent on various program activities jointly undertaken by the chamber of commerce and the department of agriculture over the years. This involved farmers' field day training programs conducted monthly, the publication of relevant technical handbooks, radio and TV programs, production promotions through the agriculture and trade show, liaison with processors and exporters and overseas importers, provinces and farmers. Three of the biggest contributors to this increase in production of root crops and agricultural products are Jubilee Farm and export company Lacalex Ltd, both in Santo, and Vanuatu Fresh in Port Vila, a processor and exporter. According to estimates the yield for 2005 could double that of 2004 after the Business Forum set specific targets of 3000 tons for taro, 1000 tons for casava and 1000 tons for yams. The national program activities now being designed aim to achieve these targets by 2007, hopefully generating an estimated return of more than VT1 billion in foreign exchange earnings. Priority also took into consideration production to meet local demand for root crops and depended largely on educating farmers to think on both levels. * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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