At the National Commodity Forum, farmers voiced concerns about the rising cost of feed for small livestock such as chickens and ducks.

The issue has been growing steadily as prices of store goods continue to increase.

A farmer from Santo, Navwin Wells, said the high prices that commercial farmers are paying for livestock feed in shops has become a major challenge.

“Food for the chicken, especially for us in Santo, the price climbs every month. My question is,can we just produce it here in Vanuatu?” Wells asked.

Commercial farmers looking to expand their businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the high costs of feed, combined with other expenses such as transport, which make profits very small.

In 2020, the price of layer feed was around VT2,000, but now it has climbed to about VT5,000, showing a sharp rise in costs over the past five years.

Director of Livestock, Mr. Lonny Bong, said work is already underway to develop animal feed that will be fully produced in Vanuatu. He explained that the Department is working closely with Syndicate Agricole, which is leading the development of local livestock feed.

“This will be the last time we talk about feed. With directives in place, we are engaging Syndicate Agricole to take the lead in developing feed for small livestock. Some farmers have already tested it with chickens, and the results are positive. Shortly, the Department of Livestock will also provide machines for feed processing,” Mr. Bong said.

He added that the government is ready to assist any farmer who takes the lead in producing local feed.

“The government has supported initiatives by farmers who have the capacity to process feed that can help others in their area. We can assist, but farmers must first take the lead,” he said.

Officials also confirmed that within the next two years, the country is aiming for 90% of animal and small livestock feed to be produced locally in Vanuatu, a move expected to reduce reliance on imported feed and stabilize costs for farmers.