The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Biosecurity (MALFB) officially received Digital Farmer Registry (DFR) equipment from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) during a handover ceremony held to strengthen the implementation of Vanuatu's Digital Farmer Registry Project.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Graham Nimoho, Assistant FAO Representative (Programme) for Vanuatu, reaffirmed FAO's commitment to supporting Vanuatu's agricultural digital transformation. He explained that, following a request from the Government of Vanuatu through the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Biosecurity and the Vanuatu Primary Producers Authority (VPPA), FAO has been supporting the implementation of the Digital Farmer Registry Project. As part of this support, FAO procured and handed over essential ICT equipment to enhance the development and implementation of the Digital Farmer Registry system.
The equipment includes:
- A 65-inch (163 cm) monitor;
- Laptop computers; and
- A printer.
These resources will improve communication and collaboration among stakeholders, support enumerators and technical officers in the field, and strengthen the implementation and management of the Digital Farmer Registry.
Mr. Nimoho also highlighted that Vanuatu has become a regional leader in digital agriculture. Among the seven countries where FAO is supporting similar initiatives, Vanuatu has made remarkable progress in implementing the new Digital Farmer Registry system, positioning itself as a model for the region.
The Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Biosecurity, Mr. Timothy Tekon Tumukon, expressed his sincere appreciation to FAO for its continued partnership and generous support. He acknowledged that the equipment will play a vital role in advancing the Digital Farmer Registry and assured FAO that the Ministry will utilize the equipment effectively to strengthen the productive sector, improve farmers' livelihoods, support evidence-based policy and planning, and promote sustainable agricultural development throughout Vanuatu.
The handover ceremony was witnessed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Vanuatu Primary Producers Authority (VPPA), together with the Directors responsible for Livestock, Forestry, and Biosecurity. The Director General reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to ensuring that the equipment is fully utilized to strengthen the agricultural sector, improve service delivery to farmers, and support the continued development of the Digital Farmer Registry.
The Chief Executive Officer of VPPA, Mr. Mark Bebe, also acknowledged the Director General and FAO for their continued investment in the Digital Farmer Registry Project. He noted that the newly procured equipment will be put into immediate use during the upcoming Training of Trainers (ToT) programme for administrators, enumerators, and farmers on the new Digital Farmer Registry system and its mobile application. The training, scheduled to commence next week, will also mark the pilot implementation of the new system.
Mr. Bebe further expressed confidence that the continued collaboration between the Ministry, FAO, and VPPA will significantly improve the quality and validation of farmer data. He added that the Digital Farmer Registry will enable greater integration and sharing of information across the Ministry's departments, creating a more coordinated, efficient, and reliable agricultural information management system for Vanuatu.