MALFB to launch Agricultural Business Permit system to boost commercial farming

June 24, 2025 10:06 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Kizzy Kalsakau.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, and Biosecurity (MALFB), will officially launch Vanuatu’s new Agricultural Business Permit System on 10 July 2025. The initiative is part of the country’s broader push to strengthen and coordinate its commercial agriculture sector.

Speaking on the Yumi Groem Vanuatu programme on Capitol FM107, DARD Director Antoine Ravo said the system follows key amendments to the Agriculture Act—first passed in 2018 and updated in December 2024—to modernise the industry and support commercial growth.

The recent changes to the Act include several new measures. One is the formal recognition of local investors involved in commercial agriculture, placing them on equal footing with foreign investors for the first time. The amendments also introduce a regulatory framework to manage export limits for key primary products, including coffee, cocoa, spices, and root crops. The aim is to ensure exports align with national priorities and support sustainable production.

To improve oversight, the reforms allow for the creation of an Agricultural Advisory Committee, which will provide policy advice and help ensure transparent decision-making. A Commercial Agricultural Development Fund has also been set up to offer financial support to farmers, island traders, market vendors, and exporters.

The new system includes business permit categories with defined minimum requirements, including registration with the Vanuatu Primary Producers Authority (VPPA) or a recognised cooperative society, secure land tenure, and an annual turnover of at least VT2 million.

For those who don’t yet meet these thresholds, a Business Permit Readiness Programme has been created to help farmers build their capacity and prepare for future inclusion.

Director Ravo said the programme supports Vanuatu’s long-term goals of improving rural incomes, increasing productivity, and connecting farmers with local and export markets.

The launch will be held at La Place in Luganville, Santo, as part of the national Ready Programme. The government has allocated VT20 million to support the first phase.

Initially, the programme will focus on nineteen priority commodities selected for their local and export potential. These include kava, coconut, cacao, coffee, taro, kumala, sugarcane, vanilla, noni, ginger, and others.

Ravo called on eligible farmers, cooperatives, and private sector partners to take part in the launch, saying the programme provides a clear path toward better market access and stronger income opportunities.

“This programme is for every ni-Vanuatu farmer ready to take the next step into commercial farming,” he said. “We are working with local and international stakeholders to build an agriculture sector that will benefit not just today’s farmers but future generations as well.”

It has taken DARD six years to develop the programme, following broad consultations and awareness efforts across the islands. The time has been used to build a strategy that responds to farmers’ needs and sets a foundation for lasting success.