First Vanuatu Agritourism Forum Soon

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) is gearing up to host Vanuatu’s first Agritourism Forum, under the theme, “From Farm to Table”.
The forum was initiated in the aftermaths of the successful hosting of the Pacific Week of Agriculture (PWA).
DARD Director, Antoine Ravo, explains: “After the PWA event this year, the Agritourism Steering Committee has evaluated and adapted the lessons learned, provided by the PWA Task Force Committee.
“One of the ways forward is the Agritourism Forum, which is scheduled to take place at the end of this month.”
The forum is expected to attract regional participants.
“We are targeting local participants, farmers and partners as well as regional agencies,” Director Ravo conveyed to Vanuatu Nightly News’ Kizzy Kalsakau.
“They will be invited through our data network, we will invite the SPC to participate as well.
“This Forum is one of a kind and the first for Agritourism.
“The Government has declared 2017 as the Year of Agritourism, so an Agritourism is an avenue to wrap up everything, reflect back on our achievements, lessons learned, challenges and what we can improve on next year.
“We are planning to organise a Toktok Agritourism event for farmers and operators to know the linkages between agriculture and tourism.”
Various topics and interesting activities will be covered in the upcoming Agritourism Forum.
These include standards required by the tourism sector, which farmers have to meet, market access and launching of the Agritourism logo.
A schedule will be confirmed soon, depending on the availability of the Ministers of Agriculture and Tourism, however currently the tentative date is November 24.
Director Ravo reflects on the targets and priorities of the Agriculture department.
“We have an Agritourism Plan of Action,” he said.
“We want to see farmers venturing into agritourism, producing and value-adding products that end up in the tourism market.
“Within the next five years, we want to see farmers, particularly on Efate, Santo and Malekula and other places where there is a lot of tourism activities, engaged on contracts with tourism operators.”
Agritourism is a new concept for Vanuatu and the Pacific.
“The PWA has shed some light on farmers to see other investment opportunities, such as agritourism,” he said.
“There is a lot of work yet to be done between the ministries of Agriculture and Trade. We are addressing these.
“Agritourism is very new and I want to encourage farmers to work with the government and its partners.
“One of our priorities in 2018 is to register all farmers, collect information on what they are producing, to link them to the tourism market.
“There is a long way to go.”
The DARD Director acknowledges all partners, government stakeholders and farmers for their support and contributions, especially in the recent PWA as well as the media in informing the public.
 
(Source: The Vanuatu Daily Post 18 November 2017)