From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 13, no. 4, December 1998.

A $6 million Agricultural Development Program for the two Niuas and ‘Eua is underway to help growers in outlying rural communities.

In ‘Eua 40 kilometres of farm roads are under construction.

Viliami Tisieli the policy and planning officer for the Ministry of Agriculture, said that by February, three staff living quarters, a new office, a training centre, and a new market would be ready. The office and the training centre will be fully equipped with computers and training equipment.

Viliami said that the prime objective was to increase the yield of growers in these rural communities, and to reduce the disparity in the income of growers in the outer islands, in comparison with growers in Vava‘u and Tongatapu.

He said it was essential to improve the extension service in these islands, “but it is difficult to get our qualified staff to go and work in ‘Eua and the Niuas, so we are building new living quarters, and providing fully equipped offices and the training centre, and will buy them new vehicles.”

Satellite link

Viliami said that the same incentives approach was applied to the two Niuas, with new compounds for extension staff, new roads, and new vehicles. The only difference was that the satellite telecommunication link to the Niuas was funded under this project. The Niua project is expected to be completed in May-June next year.