Improving smallholder canarium nut production in Vanuatu

Liz Ota; Elektra Grant; Dora Carias Vega

doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-9623509/v1

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Improving smallholder canarium nut production in Vanuatu

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Improving smallholder canarium nut production in Vanuatu

Liz Ota, Elektra Grant and Dora Carias Vega

Research Square, Vol.31 May 2026

Research Square Company

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9623509/v1

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Abstract

Melanesia

galip nut

Small-Island Development States

small-scale forestry

agroforestry

The diversification of sources of income can reduce the financial vulnerability and increase the resilience of rural household in developing countries. This paper aims to assess the potential of Canarium indicum L. plantations for smallholders in Vanuatu. We carried out a review of available literature on canarium nuts in Vanuatu and performed financial and sensitivity analyses of canarium tree plantations at the household level under four scenarios: sale of nut-in-shell, sale of kernel-in-testa, sale of dried kernel using solar dryer, and sale of dried kernel using electric dryer. The literature demonstrates great potential for the canarium nut industry, but also highlights its challenges, which were confirmed in the financial analysis. The financial returns for the different scenarios, the nature of labour provided, nut processing limitations, and potential market opportunities are discussed. Current prices do not pay off investment in canarium growing if labour is costed at the minimum wage of the country. However, smallholders might place a non-financial value to the activity. Prices paid for all canarium products must increase for a profitable investment. There is potential for value adding if infrastructure is available and if smallholders are interested. Challenges and opportunities for canarium nuts discussed in this manuscript are also relevant for other non-timber forest products in other remote locations in the tropics.

Details

Title: Improving smallholder canarium nut production in Vanuatu
Authors: Liz Ota (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Elektra Grant (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Dora Carias Vega (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Publication details: Research Square, Vol.31 May 2026
Publisher: Research Square Company 
Date published: 2026
DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9623509/v1
ISSN: 2693-5015
Copyright note: This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License
Data Availability: The primary data used in this manuscript are stored in the UniSC R drive as per Human Research Ethics guidelines.
Grants: Enhancing returns from high-value agroforestry species in Vanuatu, FST/2016/154, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (Australia, Canberra) - ACIAR
Organisation Unit: Tropical Forests and People Research Centre
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991252399702621
Output Type: Preprint

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