The biggest hog farm in Tonga, Season Farm at 'Utulau, is raising over 200 commercial swines (sinamanu) and 5000 piglets. Owners, Lu and Emily Lin, led a tour around the farm with the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and Forest, Lord Fohe, and CEO Dr. Viliami Toalei Manu, on 13 October. They hope that locally farmed meat can help reduce Tonga's high imports of poultry.
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Results for MAFF
Monday 16 October 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Friday 21 July 2023
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Royal Agricultural, Fisheries, Tourism and Trade Show for Vava’u showcased an abundant display of agricultural produce, fish and seafood, as well as fine women's weaving to vanilla beans, among other products on 20 July.
Tuesday 6 June 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Soil samples taken after the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai volcanic eruption and tsunamis showed that seawater had directly impacted soil salinity and crop growth in the Kanokupolu area on western Tongatapu and by September 2022 the salt had moved down to the subsoil. Local soil scientist, Dr. Halavatau told researchers that the impact on the soil remained a concern due to the salt changing its structural stability.
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Tuesday 6 June 2023
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A newly upgraded Pacific Islands Pest List Database (PLD) was introduced at a regional workshop in Fiji, attended by Tonga’s Head of Quarantine and Quality Management Division, from 29 May to 2 June. The PLD has a record of more than 26,000 pest occurrences, but Tonga's input needs updating, Siutoni Tupou said.
Tuesday 30 May 2023
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Royal Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism and Trade Show for Tongatapu scheduled for this weekend has been postponed until 10 June, and the 'Eua show is postponed until 17 June, in respect of the passing of HRH Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu. Her funeral is to be held in Tonga soon.
Tuesday 30 May 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
New tool boxes containing tools and equipment for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests, gifted by Australia, will help with the ongoing maintenance of vehicles and tractors that are used in land preparation for farmers.
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Thursday 18 May 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A ‘Save our Seeds’ training was held for farmers and agricultural representatives this week in the launch of a 'Pacific Seeds for Life' program that aims at achieving food security in Tonga.
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Friday 14 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s first Guideline for Healthy Living and national campaign was launched on 13 April in an effort to tackle the health problems arising out of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which remain the leading cause of deaths with around 70% of deaths annually in Tonga connected to NCDs. MAFF Minister, Lord Fohe, urged Tongans to eat healthier food. He believed it was not impossible to change our lifestyle for a healthier Tonga.
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Monday 3 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A tree planting event was held at ‘Atata Si’i on Tongatapu, Friday, 31 March, in an outreach program for Tonga's environment, with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry in partnership with local businesses and school students. It is helping the Government's long term aim, to plant one million trees
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Tuesday 15 November 2022
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Auckland, New Zealand
Twelve Codex member countries, including Tonga, attended the first South West Pacific (SWP) Codex Outreach Workshop in New Zealand, from 8-9 November, to further shape science-based international food standards, that help protect consumers and support trade.
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Friday 25 February 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's disaster recovery effort to re-build its agricultural sector, was assisted by the donation of 1500kg of seeds from New Zealand today.
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Wednesday 10 November 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Dr. Viliami Toalei Manu has been reappointed as the Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests, starting November 1 for two-years.
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Friday 2 December 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The first ever shipment of Tongan squash to China left Tonga this week, after Tongatapu exporter Nishi Trading successfully passed a strict quarantine inspection on Saturday, 26 November 2016. This important achievement took 18 months of negotiation and inspections leading to an initial protocol between the Governments of China and Tonga in May. This initiative was supported by PHAMA - the Pacific Horticultural & Agricultural Market Access Program.
Wednesday 30 November 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An 18 month long project to support the development of the vanilla industry in Vava'u this year has also helped Tonga's MAFF and Australian development partners to better understand the challenges and opportunities faced by vanilla growers and the vanilla industry. Over 100 vanilla growers were directly assisted and 328 plantations monitored under the project, which has identified a need for new plantings, particularly on small family plantations.
Friday 15 July 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A goal of year round agricultural harvesting of top quality organic vegetables is within reach for Tonga, except that farmers need to understand just how valuable pig shit really is in order to achieve this. A remarkable method of “biogas farming” using pigs and their waste to produce high yield top quality produce could transform subsistence farming incomes. It’s been demonstrated that a properly run biogas farm in Tonga can earn $200,000 or more a year - yet the opportunity is not being fully realized. By Eleanor Gee
Tonga weather forecast from yr.no, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the NRK. See also Fua'amotu Weather Forecasting Center, Tonga, for latest local weather bulletin.