There is hope Vanuatu can export organic beef to New Caledonia, Vanuatu's new director general of trade says.
Vanuatu cattle arriving on Ambrym Photo: RNZI/Len Garae
But Roy Mickey Joy said the cattle industry must first make sure it had enough cattle not only for export but also for local consumption.
The director-general made the statement in an interview with BuzzFM after French authorities in Noumea signed a trade agreement with Vanuatu.
The trade agreement covers products including kava, noni juice, cocoa, cassava, taro, island cabbage, coconut juice and fish that can be exported to the French territory.
Vanuatu's government introduced a national Cattle Restocking Programme four years ago.
Under this programme, the government supplied breeding cattle to both small and prominent farmers throughout the country to increase cattle numbers to 500,000 by 2025.
The Department of Livestock said initial statistics had confirmed an increase in the number of new calves but that numbers were still coming in from rural farmers.