Andrew Solomon Napuat

There is not enough ‘aelan kaikai’, fruits and vegetables to feed many people when affected by natural disasters because the production is low.

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Andrew Napuat, voiced this concern to vendors at the Port Vila Market House when he visited them.

Unemployed locals who get into farming are struggling to produce food their daily consumption, as well as an abundance to sell as part of their living to make an income to meet basic needs as school fees.

Vanuatu is accustomed to being hit by natural disasters like cyclones, volcanoes, landslides, floods and earthquakes.

Recently, we see people on Ambae being displaced by volcano ash fall and flash-flood that also destroyed properties. The government is responding to food crisis there with imported food such as rice and canned meat.

Natural disasters have significant impact on agriculture.

2015 to 2017 were the hottest year on record. Vanuatu experienced droughts during this period that resulted to widespread water and food shortages.

Small farmers at the main market in Port Vila were encouraged to support the national agriculture policy of increasing productivity, by growing more local crops that would also help to meet future demands.

There is not enough food to feed people when affected by disasters because people are producing just not enough, said Minister Napuat.

“That is why the new vendor registration system is necessary.

“Vendors are allowed to be registered individually or in groups. In groups, vendors will strategize their own market routine, meaning they can decide someone to sell for everyone while others can stay back and plant more produces”, he said.

Minister Napuat said with the current low fuel price on Efate and some outer islands like Malekula and Tanna, he expects transport fares to be cheaper thus vendors should not be charging customers too much.

source:Vanuatu daily post