Luganville, Vanuatu – More than 30 women from four area councils in Sanma Province are participating in a week-long training in Luganville to develop food preservation techniques as part of climate change preparedness efforts.

The training, organized under the Vanuatu Community-Based Climate Resilient Project (VCCRP) in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, aims to equip participants with knowledge and skills to enhance food security in the face of climate change challenges.

The five-day forum, which began this week, focuses on preserving locally grown food to strengthen community resilience. Vatu Molisa, Decentralization Technical Lead at VCCRP, emphasized the importance of such initiatives in building sustainable and self-reliant communities.

“In line with VCCRP’s goals, we are working towards strengthening community resilience, especially in the face of climate change, which poses significant challenges to Pacific Island nations like Vanuatu,” Molisa stated.

He highlighted that the project also seeks to reduce community dependency on government support during disasters.

“We aim to implement a decentralization approach, ensuring that each area council can stand strong during disasters like cyclones. By having food stores stocked with locally grown produce, communities will be better prepared to face any climate-related challenges,” he added.

The VCCRP initiative engages women in exploring food preservation methods for various products, including flour, oil, and jarred goods.

“Through this forum, we will identify groups to work with and support them in developing their food preservation ideas. The project will provide necessary preservation equipment to assist them in their initiatives,” Molisa explained.

Sanma Province is the first to host this forum, with similar sessions planned for five other provinces across the country.