China clears first shipment of Tongan squash [1]
Wednesday, February 22, 2017 - 21:21. Updated on Thursday, February 23, 2017 - 10:41.
The development of Tongan squash exports has been supported through the Australian and New Zealand funded Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (PHAMA) Program, working with Tonga partners.
PHAMA Tonga stated today that Tonga’s Ministry of Agriculture hopes to revive squash exports, which peaked at 22,500 tonnes in 2003 before suffering a major decline. In recent years Tonga has exported less than 2,000 tonnes per year, as a result of increased competition for the Japanese market from larger exporting countries.
"In 2003, Tonga recorded about 800 squash growers. However, the number has sharply declined to 50 growers in 2012 and 30 in 2016."
To export squash to China, Tonga had to comply with China’s higher import health standards (IHS), which became mandatory when China introduced its Food Safety Law in 2015.
"The costs of meeting those requirements and logistics of getting fresh produce to China in the shortest possible time and in good quality were also crucial factors to consider. Thanks to support from PHAMA, these challenges were successfully addressed, culminating in the first shipment late last year," they stated.
Last month the head of Tonga Quarantine, Dr. Viliami Kami, squash grower and exporter Minoru Nishi Jr. of Nishi Trading, Tongan squash broker Danny Bearsley of Bearsley Exports, New Zealand and Tupou Vaipulu of the Tonga Mission Office in China were in Beijing to see delivery of the first consignment.
The consignment came as a result of 18 months of negotiations and inspections that led to an initial protocol between the governments of China and Tonga. Success has been down to the collaborative efforts of the Tongan Government, farmers, exporters and PHAMA.
PHAMA Tonga stated that Tonga has more work to do and they need to sign an official protocol with China at the ministerial level.
"A reduction in China’s 13% import duty on Tongan squash also requires discussion, as this is a disadvantage to Tonga compared with countries that have free trade agreements with China. "
It is expected that an increase in export of squash to China should help Tonga’s economy by increasing income and creating jobs. Tongan exporters see the potential to grow exports to several thousand tonnes per year over the long term, the statement said.