Women trained, funded, and ready to build local food brands

May 19, 2025 9:53 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Doddy Morris.

The Ministry of Trade and Commerce (MOTC) has announced that seed grants will soon be awarded to 150 mothers who have completed a comprehensive food processing training programme on Efate, paving the way for them to launch their own local food businesses.

The 150 women, mostly from poor and vulnerable households across Efate, represent the heart of a six-month programme rolled out by the Department of Industry (DOI) under the COVID-19 Response for Affected Poor and Vulnerable Groups Project.

Through three intensive modules—food safety, business and entrepreneurship, and food processing—the participants gained practical knowledge to ensure food hygiene, reduce waste, and transform local produce into market-ready products. The initiative not only aimed to equip them with income-generating skills but also to strengthen household food security and promote grassroots-led economic development.

Speaking at a certificate handover ceremony held yesterday at the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Multipurpose Hall, Acting Director General (DG) of the MOTC, Joe Ligo, confirmed that the grants will be issued to support participants in setting up their ventures ahead of the Vanuatu Made Event scheduled for September 2025.

“These grants are intended to support the establishment and growth of your food processing enterprises,” Ligo told the graduates. “You are now equipped with the skills and knowledge to take this next step.”

The training, delivered under the COVID-19 Response for Affected Poor and Vulnerable Groups Project, was run by the DOI and spanned six months. Participants completed three core modules: Food Safety Training (Dec 2024 – Feb 2025), Business and Entrepreneurship (Feb – Apr 2025), and Food Processing (Mar – 16 May 2025).

The programme aims to build capacity at the grassroots level by teaching food safety, value-added processing, and entrepreneurship. Many of the women showcased products such as guava-leaf herbal teas for diabetes management, popsicles, pickles, jams, and syrups made from local produce—some using parts that are usually discarded.

“These products are more than just food—they are symbols of resilience, creativity, and economic opportunity,” Ligo said. “This is part of our broader vision for inclusive and sustainable development through local industry.”

While the grants have not yet been distributed, Ligo said they will play a critical role in helping participants transition from training to enterprise. He also noted that the DOI is using insights from this initiative to inform national manufacturing policy and encourage more participation in the Vanuatu Made brand.

The programme was made possible with funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Governments of Japan and Ireland, and collaboration with key government agencies, including the Ministries of Health and Finance, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), and the Vanuatu Institute of Technology (VIT), which hosted the training.

Ligo closed with a personal message of congratulations: “To our mamas—your commitment and strength are truly inspiring. You are now change-makers in your families, your communities, and our nation. This is only the beginning.”

ADB Country Coordinator Nancy Wells said she was pleased to see that funding had been allocated to support and empower the mamas with skills to add value to their products.

“Every time the Government talks about production, we must think about value-adding so we can increase its worth. I heard that you have learned a lot of skills, and I want to thank you all for giving your time. Despite your other responsibilities, you came to learn new skills and contribute to our country,” she said.

“You mothers who are here today are an example to others. We can do it—we can produce, we can market our products, and we can sell them.”

She added that the ADB is proud to partner with the Vanuatu Government in this small-scale initiative. “Normally we support big projects, but this one has had a big impact,” she continued.

“The tools you have learned can contribute meaningfully to this nation.

“When you empower a mother, you empower a nation. As it says in Proverbs 31, women play many roles—we care for our husbands, our families, we put food on the table, and we ensure that things are organised. To the mothers here: what you’ve learned—continue to use it. Become industrial. Become entrepreneurs. Go out into the world. Continue to strive, learn, and build your businesses.”