Tonga’s 2015 agricultural census report, first in 14 years [1]
Thursday, April 28, 2016 - 22:06
Food Security for Tonga is at the heart of the new 'Tonga 2015 National Agricultural Census' report that was released this morning, 28 April in Nuku’alofa.
The project to compile a National Agricultural Census report for Tonga was initiated in 2014 and funded by the United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Paumolevuka Likiliki, represented the FAO at the launching ceremony held at the Catholic Church Basilica conference room, Nuku’alofa.
The report covers fisheries, agriculture, forestry, food and livestocks and is made up of two books The 260 pages main report outlines the structure of the agriculture sector, with a 46-pages 2015 Tonga National Agricultural Census Thematic Report.
Paumolevuka invited government officials and the private sector to study the documents, and stressed that “Food Security for Tonga is the heart of the report.”
The report reveals that even though agriculture continues to be Tonga's predominant economic activity, its contribution to Tonga’s Gross Domestic Product has dwindled in recent years. It declined from 26% in 2004/5 to about 19% in 2009/10, then declined further to 18% in 2013/14.
In the Thematic Report there are five chapters on Cropping, Livestock, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Women in the Agriculture Sector. In line with FAO definitions, the agriculture sector includes five main sub-sectors; dropping, livestock, fisheries, forestry, and handicrafts.
Manaia Halafihi, the project co-ordinator said that the 2015 Tonga National Agricultural Census is Tonga’s first since 2001, and there has been a lack of reliable statistics for government planners and policy makers.
The report is a joint effort of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forestry and Fishereis, Tonga Statistics Department, Good and Agriculture Organization and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.