Port Vila, Vanuatu | 05 November 2026

The Government of Vanuatu has marked a significant milestone in the nation's agricultural digital transformation journey with the official soft launch of the Vanuatu National Digital Farmer Registry (DFR) at Warwick Le Lagoon Resort & Spa in Port Vila on 5 November 2026.

Held on the margins of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Forum, the event brought together approximately 30 participants, including representatives from government ministries and agencies, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), regional organizations, development partners and technical experts.

The soft launch represents an important step towards establishing a nationally owned and sustainable digital platform to strengthen agricultural data management, improve service delivery to farmers and support evidence-based decision-making across Vanuatu.

Advancing Vanuatu's Agricultural Digital Transformation

In his opening remarks, the Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Biosecurity (MALFB), Mr. Tekon Timothy Tumukon, highlighted the strategic importance of the Digital Farmer Registry in advancing a more connected, inclusive and data-driven agricultural sector.

He emphasized that the initiative represents more than the introduction of a digital platform. It marks a transition towards a nationally coordinated system capable of supporting agricultural planning, policy development and improved service delivery to farmers across Vanuatu's six provinces.

The Digital Farmer Registry addresses longstanding challenges associated with fragmented agricultural information by providing a centralized platform for managing farmer profiles, unique farmer identification numbers, geographical farm information and agricultural commodity data.

Through this integrated approach, the Government will be better positioned to understand the distribution, activities and needs of farmers, enabling more targeted agricultural interventions and efficient allocation of resources.

Strengthening Farmer Services and Evidence-Based Decision-Making

The Digital Farmer Registry is designed to support both farmers and government institutions by improving access to reliable and regularly updated agricultural information.

The platform will contribute to:

• More effective delivery of agricultural extension and advisory services

• Improved identification of farmers requiring support

• Stronger connections to agricultural markets and input suppliers

• Better coordination of assistance during climate-related emergencies and natural disasters

A key feature of the system is its offline-capable mobile application, which enables agricultural field officers and enumerators to register farmers and collect information in remote communities, even where internet connectivity is limited. Collected information can subsequently be synchronised with the central database when connectivity becomes available.

The registry consists of three interconnected components:

1. Farmer Portal

2. Enumerator Portal with mobile data collection capabilities

3. Administration Portal for managing and monitoring agricultural information

Together, these components provide the foundation for a more coordinated, accessible and responsive agricultural information system.

Importantly, officials clarified that the Digital Farmer Registry is not an agricultural census or land ownership registry. Rather, it is a continuously maintained administrative system intended to complement national agricultural statistics and strengthen the availability of reliable information for planning, monitoring, reporting and policy formulation.

Regional Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing

The soft launch also provided an opportunity for regional partners to exchange experiences and perspectives on the growing importance of digital agricultural information systems across Pacific Island countries.

• Tuvalu: A representative from Tuvalu reflected on the country's experience with its first agricultural census, highlighting the importance of reliable agricultural information for national planning.

• Samoa: Similarly, an FAO representative from Samoa shared perspectives on the value of digital farmer registration systems in strengthening agricultural service delivery and supporting farmers.

These regional contributions reinforced the importance of collaboration, knowledge sharing and investment in sustainable digital solutions to address common agricultural challenges faced by Small Island Developing States.

National Ownership and Long-Term Sustainability

The development of the Digital Farmer Registry has been supported by FAO in collaboration with the Government of Vanuatu and technical development partners.

Following the official handover of the system by FAO to the Government of Vanuatu on 29 September 2026, the soft launch represents another significant milestone in the transition towards national ownership, institutional integration and long-term sustainability.

Under the national governance arrangement:

• Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Biosecurity (MALFB): Serves as the system owner.

• Vanuatu Primary Producers Authority (VPPA): Responsible for its operational management and coordination of farmer registration activities.

• Department of Communications and Digital Transformation (DCDT): Provides government hosting infrastructure and technical oversight, supporting the integration of the registry within Vanuatu's national digital ecosystem.

The event also acknowledged the contributions of FAO, government stakeholders and the technical development team, including Mr. Dinidu Hewage of Ones & Zeros, whose expertise has supported the system's development and deployment preparations.

This collaborative approach reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that the registry remains a sustainable, nationally managed digital asset that continues to evolve in response to the needs of Vanuatu's agricultural sector.

Official Soft Launch of the National Digital Farmer Registry

The event concluded with the Director General officially declaring the Vanuatu National Digital Farmer Registry soft-launched, followed by the ceremonial activation of the launch button.

The platform was introduced under its official government domain, vanagridata.gov.vu, marking an important step towards wider national implementation.

As Vanuatu continues its digital transformation journey, the National Digital Farmer Registry is expected to play a central role in connecting farmers with government services, strengthening agricultural data governance and enabling more informed investment and policy decisions.

More than a digital platform, the National Digital Farmer Registry represents a long-term investment in Vanuatu's farmers, agricultural institutions and the future of a more inclusive, resilient and data-driven agricultural sector