Vanuatu Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity (MALFFB)
Vanuatu is an island nation with a relatively small land area and population. Vanuatu covers a land area of 12,189 km2 and its EEZ is 684,000km2. Only one third of the total cultivable land is presently farmed.
Transport services, both inter- and intra-island are a major constraint to marketing and this to increasing productivity and the volume of production.
The Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sectors account for around 15% of total GDP and for almost all merchandise exports. Vanuatu is an agriculture-based economy with copra, cocoa, kava and cattle continuing to dominate the sector.
Since 2003, the agriculture sector has grown at an annual rate of 3.3% compared to 2.8% growth for the economy and an average population growth rate of 2.6% per annum.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity (MALFFB) is enthusiastic to see the nation's agricultural, forestry and aquatic resources are sustainable and managed efficiently, and that these resources make a significant contribution to the country's economic growth and wellbeing of the people of Vanuatu.
The government through the Ministry recognizes the role of women and youth and vulnerable groups in agriculture. Net growth of the private sector and its subsequent leadership in driving their respective industries is one of the key aims of the Ministry.