Agritourism Policy Stetting: The case of Vanuatu

Howard Aru, Director General, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries & Biosecurity, Vanuatu

Brussels Briefing, 21 September 2016Agribusiness development in SIDS: the potential of tourism-related markets

 

Vote of THANKS

SIDSAgenda

Vote of THANKS

Visit to Santo Agri-Tourism Project

Eye Opening Moments

• 1st Pacific Agri-Tourism Forum in Fiji (29 June – 3 July 2015);

• Exchanges with the Caribbean on agritourism (Barbados/Jamaica);

(2 – 6 Nov 2015)

• Realization of benefits for Vanuatu.

Agriculture and Tourism Linkages in Vanuatu – big priority !

PRODUCTIVE SECTOR DRIVE !

Strong Linkages

Agriculture provides employment and income for more households than does any other sector.

80% of Vanuatu population relies on agriculture and the sector contributes to 28% of GDP.

Tourism has the potential to stimulate demand in the agricultural sector and use of local products.

Cruise ship tourism is growing in Vanuatu (15%/year) and offers new opportunities

Example – FANSA FARM

Example – FANSA FARM

• High import bill.

• Excessive processed food.

• 54% fresh produce - imported (veg, fruits).

• Meat and dairy : 79% of important bill.

• Consistency of supply of quality local produce.

Current challenges

• High cost international travel, insufficient maritime transport.

• High incidence of NCDs – one of the highest in the world (70% of all deaths).

• Producers insufficiently organised and need skills upgraded on ‘group marketing’, quality and consistency of supply

Other challenges

Smart farming (ICT driven) which could assist farmers in monitoring crops and improving market access has insufficient uptake.

Other challenges

Policy setting > Agritourism – Key Areas

AgricultureTourism &Trade

Health Infrastructure

Linkages

Policy setting > Agritourism – Key Areas

Roads for Agriculture and Development

Policy setting > Agritourism – Key Areas

Policy setting > Agritourism – Key AreasFIGHT AGAINST NCDS

Policy setting > Agritourism – Key AreasFIGHT AGAINST NCDS

Policy setting > Agritourism – Key AreasFIGHT AGAINST NCDS

Policy setting > Agritourism – Key AreasFIGHT AGAINST NCDS

Policy setting > Agritourism – Key Areas

• Govt. incentives to promote local food:

o Council of Ministers (COM) Decision on food and Government-hosted functions, and gradually – in restaurants.

• Data Gaps (crops, volumes, prices, chain actors to be addressed).

Policy setting > Agritourism – Key Areas

• Govt. incentives to promote local food:

o Council of Ministers (COM) Decision on food and Government-hosted functions, and gradually – in restaurants.

• Data Gaps (crops, volumes, prices, chain actors to be addressed).

Policy setting in agritourism : key areas•Providing information on nutrition and health characteristics of fresh and processed food (healthy food) and education programmes are being developed, •Increase private-public collaboration to bring together the agriculture and tourism industries and PPPs to target processing facilities, •Trainings in food safety and certification•Work with chefs to increase local sourcing and promote local cuisine

Actions already taken :

Agri-Tourism Steering Committee23 Dec 2015

Actions already taken:

Agri-Tourism Policy Setting Workshop, May 2015, Port Vila

Actions already taken :

• NZ Aid-funded Agri-tourism Strategy (following CTA’s funding of Agri-tourism Policy setting workshop and awareness since 2015 !)

Actions already taken :

• Annual Agri-Tourism Week - First event to be launched in Nov 2016.

Actions already taken :

E-Agriculture strategy

(CTA funding)

Actions already taken :

ICT and Agriculture / Fisheries

Actions already taken :Chef Mann

Actions already taken :

Selling the concept of Agri-Tourism

Actions already taken :

Rebuilding of Sea-Front

Actions already taken :

SANDALWOOD CITY OF THE PACIFIC

• The Government is rebuilding and upgrading the Port-Vila seafront

• Vanuatu Association of Chefs trains young chefs in use and promotion of local products and local cuisine

• Branding efforts, promotion of quality food and product differentiation are being developed

• Agritourism tours offered to tourists with food experiences

Next steps: Upscaling and expanding •Agritourism centre being developed (private-sector led) with quality Vanuatu products and iconic industries (“must have” products tourists have to bring home): Tanna coffee, chocolate, oils, organic beef jerky, kava, honey…•Expanding agritourism tours combining local food and value added products. Development of agritourism product cluster and tours (Lapita, ACTIV, coffee and cacao plantations…)

• Business to business agritourism trade shows combining culinary events/trainings.

• Establishing pilot project for hydroponics on Santo.

• Food Mamas product enhancement - Port Vila Market. Improving facilities for food vendors (training in food safety, signage…)

Conclusion•Agritourism has the potential to build resilience through multisectoral work and to create employment opportunities across the value chain•Public-Private Partnerships are key to upscale and expand •Very good projects to be considered within the EU and ACP cooperation for support under the private sector development

THANK YOU