The Cook Islands (CI) consist of 15 islands widely dispersed over some 2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean. Geographically the country is divided into two groups of islands, the Northern Group (atolls and sand cays) and the Southern Group (volcanic and makatea islands) that includes Rarotonga where 72% of the population reside. A decline in the population in the outer islands is a significant policy concern. The number of people on the 11 smaller islands fell by more than 40% between the mid-1990s, and a census in 2006, with many leaving for better jobs and services overseas. Demographic changes resulting from the emigration of working age people, leaving the elderly and their grandchildren carry important repercussions for the future of the agriculture sector. A major challenge is how to make agriculture competitive, profitable and an attractive choice for income generation. Because of the different resource endowments and constraints to agriculture development in the different islands of the groups, strategic development of the sector will require island specific oriented development plans.

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National Mid Term Priority Framework full report