Duty-free machinery imports for farmers with permit
August 12, 2026 11:09 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook
By Anita Roberts.
Farmers with an Agriculture Business Permit wanting to import machinery to expand their farming activities will not pay the usual import duty.
The Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister of Finance, Johnny Koanapo, said that the government will introduce a new programme to remove import duties on machinery brought in by holders of the Agriculture Permit.
“I want to announce that in next year’s budget, the government will introduce a new programme to help our farmers by removing duties on any machinery imported by holders of the Agriculture Business Permit.
The machinery will be 100% duty-free,” he said when delivering his speech during the recent launch of the TAFEA Economic Development Plan at Lenakel on Tanna.
He said the initiative is expected to be officially announced in Parliament.
The Deputy PM encouraged farmers in Tanna and from across TAFEA Province to apply for the VT927M Banking Facility, which provides credit at a 5% interest rate to purchase machinery and expand production.
He told farmers that they need to move from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture to help grow the country’s economy.
“Our country’s economy depends on agriculture,” he said.
During his visit to Tanna, the Deputy PM joined the Minister of Trade and Commerce, Robson Iavro, to mark the groundbreaking of a national packhouse on Tanna.
The National Packhouse Programme is a key part of the TAFEA Province’s Economic Development Plan 2026-2030. The project will build on progress made at the Santo National Packhouse, which is moving into commercial operations and is expected to facilitate its second taro shipment.
Deputy PM Koanapo thanked the people for their contribution to the export of five containers of taro last year. He said another packhouse is needed on Tanna to increase agricultural production and exports.
The packhouse is not being built for political reasons, but the location provides farmers with easier access to the ports, he said.
The Deputy PM also thanked the Nikoletan Council of Chiefs for ensuring land is available for the development.
He also called on landowners and communities to open up land for development to help grow the provincial economy.
