Developing food markets in Vanuatu: Re-examining remote island geographies of food production and trade

Abstract

Vanuatu is experiencing urban nutrition insecurity, despite having a population primarily engaged in agriculture. As Vanuatu is an island archipelago, this is often attributed to poor shipping links between islands, which separate rural producers and urban consumers. However, closer attention to rural island geographies reveals that substantial differences in livelihoods materialise over small distances. This study explores social, economic and biophysical features of rural food production and trade in an area of West Ambae, Vanuatu. A survey of 94 rural smallholding households was undertaken. The survey reveals that the largest food producing households are often very remote farmers for whom spatially situated social and economic features represent a significant barrier to food trade. Closer attention to these remote island geographies of food production and trade are needed to support effective policy for the development of a sustainable and resilient food system.