2 May 2017

Vanuatu govt fosters organic vegetable growing

3:49 pm on 2 May 2017

Vanuatu's Minister of Agriculture Matai Seremaiah is leading 40 members of his staff to Tanna to help encourage farmers to plant potatoes, onions and carrots.

Farmer with basket of organic potatoes.

Photo: AFP

The minister said Tanna was a traditional island for vegetable growing because of its rich volcanic soil.

Mr Seremaiah said he wanted farmers on Tanna to focus on the local organic market first, so Vanuatu could stop importing potatoes, onions and carrots from Australia.

He told the farmers on Tanna that becoming self sufficient in these sorts of vegetables is what self reliance is all about.