Like many Pacific countries, Vanuatu has seen reducing crop productivity, fallow periods due to land population pressure, and unsustainable farming practices like “slash and burn” and “intensive mono-cropping". These practices, coupled with
- lack of knowledge and understanding of farm nutrient condition and trend;
- limited access to, and capacity to deliver soil nutrient testing; and
- limited knowledge and understanding of how basic soil additives like organic fertilizer and lime inputs can improve production
have led to declining soil nutrient status and declining crop productivity.
Soil tillage practices have also contributed to this decline as choices of tillage implement, timing and frequency of tillage has led to intensively tilled soils which impact soil structure. When extreme weather events, such as cyclones and heavy rainfall occur, poor soil structure leads to increased soil erosion and nutrient loss.
Soil water management is also an issue, as limited knowledge and capacity to access appropriate irrigation technology and techniques can lead to flooding and waterlogged soils, and salinity in low lying islands and coastal areas.
