世界银行-新萌芽_基里巴斯外岛农业多样化（英）-2025_67页_4mb

Summary of Diversifying Agriculture in Kiribati's Outer Islands

Background

Agriculture plays a vital role in Kiribati's economy, but the heavy reliance on copra (coconut oil) production, supported by a generous subsidy, has led to economic inefficiency, poor nutrition, and limited gender equity. Despite urban migration, most households remain engaged in farming, primarily coconut, which weakens economic growth and food security. The country faces food insecurity, rising malnutrition, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) due to limited local production and high reliance on imported foods.

Key Challenges

1. Copra Subsidy: Creates fiscal burden (at least 2% of GDP loss), distorts markets, and discourages diversification into food crops.
2. Agricultural Constraints:
   • Harsh agro-ecological conditions (low soil fertility, limited water).
   • Poor access to inputs, storage, transport, and financing.
3. Supply Chain Issues: Fragmented supply chains result in high post-harvest losses, irregular shipping, and weak market linkages, pushing prices in urban centers upward.
4. Demand for Diversification: High demand exists in South Tarawa for fresh produce, but supply falls short due to logistical and financial barriers.
5. Gender Disparities: Women handle most domestic tasks and face heavy workloads, limiting their participation in income-generating agricultural activities.

Proposed Pathways and Recommendations

1. Reduce Copra Subsidy: Lowering the subsidy allows farmers to shift focus to food crops, with funds reallocated to support agriculture diversification. Coupling with cash transfer programs ensures support for vulnerable households during transition.
2. Strengthen Agriculture Support:
   • Adopt climate-resilient, low-cost technologies (e.g., composting, hydroponics, intercropping).
   • Improve access to inputs, land (streamlining leasing), and financial tools (matching grants, mobile banking).
3. Enhance Food Supply Chains:
   • Use performance-based shipping contracts to improve efficiency.
   • Build middlemen capacity and explore farmers’ organizations for collective marketing.
   • Invest in storage, transport, and post-harvest management.
4. Increase Market Demand:
   • Develop local processing industries (e.g., solar salt, seaweed) and promote fresh food consumption through nutrition education.
   • Leverage public institutions (schools, hospitals) and tourism industries to diversify markets.
5. Gender-Inclusive Approach: Empower women by balancing economic incentives with harm prevention (avoiding increased gender-based violence or workloads).

Strategic Priorities

• Short-Term: Reduce copra subsidy, conduct food supply chain assessments, and train farmers and middlemen.
• Medium-Term: Implement a roadmap for diversification, backed by coordinated policies from MELAD, Finance Ministry, and private sector engagement.
• Long-Term: Secure sustainable funding through fiscal savings, development partners, and blended finance to achieve self-sufficiency in food production by 2030.

This report calls for a holistic transformation of Kiribati's agricultural sector, linking climate resilience, economic growth, and human nutrition to build resilience against shocks.