Australia Supports The Vanuatu Beef Industry

Australia Supports the Vanuatu Beef Industry

Australia is providing more than $1.3 million to support the beef industry and increase the incomes of smallholder farmers in Vanuatu.

Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan, has congratulated Vanuatu company Sarami Plantation for their successful bid in round three of Australia's Enterprise Challenge Fund (ECF) grants scheme.

"The Sarami Plantation initiative will be an excellent model for other Pacific Islands and should lead to a dramatic strengthening not only of the Vanuatu beef industry but also of livestock industries throughout the Pacific region," Mr McMullan said.

ECF is a $20.5 million program aimed at strengthening the private sector, encouraging economic growth and reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific.

The grants promote access to employment and markets, and encourage the growth of small businesses in developing countries, which is vital to achieving a sustainable reduction in poverty.

This grant will enable smallholder cattle farmers in the rural areas of Santos and surrounding islands to produce more cattle, be able to sell at significantly higher prices and improve their incomes.

"With assistance from ECF, Sarami Plantation will purchase cattle from smallholders at prices up to 50 per cent higher than normal to sell to the local abattoir, which will then sell the beef for a significant profit on international markets, mainly Japan, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji," Mr McMullan said.

Mr McMullan is in Vanuatu to participate in the Pacific Conference on the Human Face of the Global Economic Crisis.

"The ECF grants are just one way we can help improve the economies of Pacific Island countries in the long term, and through them the Australian Government is helping the private sector to play its part in alleviating poverty across our region," Mr McMullan said.

Media Contact:
Sam Casey (Mr McMullan's office)
0421 697 660

AusAID Media
0417 680 590

SOURCE: AusAID