French Polynesia - Agriculture



Farming was once the primary means of survival for most French Polynesians. The development of the French nuclear program in the 1960s lured thousands of workers away from farming, however, and the sector nearly collapsed. By 1965, exports of coffee and vanilla had ended, and coconut production had dropped by 40 percent. In 1997, agriculture made up only 4 percent of GDP and employed 11 percent of the population. In that year, 80 percent of the islands' food had to be imported. The islands have fairly good agricultural resources, however, with 6 percent of available land under crops, 1 percent arable, and a further 5 percent used for pasturage. Local production supplies about half of the islands' vegetables and three-quarters of its fruit. Other products include vanilla and coffee, especially on Tahiti; poultry, beef and

dairy products, especially in the Marquesas; and coconuts in the outer islands. Aquaculture is also being developed, with cultivation of shrimp, prawns, live bait, and green mussels.

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User Contributions:

I REALLY LIKE THIS BECAUSE IT GIVES ALOT OF INFORMATION..!!!
2
Lili
i really needed this info about food, and their culture! thanks a lot
3
Khaidynn
HEY THIS IS VERY HELPFUL THANKS! This is awsome I would just add some historical agriculture into it.

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