Development of trade in fresh watermelons from Tonga to New Zealand is being supported by the Tonga Watermelon Export Taskforce (TWET) and the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Plus (PHAMA Plus) program, through training and skills development conducted in June on Tongatapu.

An entomologist from Plant and Food Research (PFR) New Zealand, Mr Graham Walker, was brought to Tonga by PHAMA Plus to work with farmers, exporters and line ministry staff. The training provided advice on improved pest management in  watermelon crops.

More than 60 farmers and workers from across the watermelon industry attended the first training session on 13 June, at Tatakamotonga.

Launching the training, New Zealand’s Deputy High Commissioner to Tonga, Ms Leitu Sa stated, “Through PHAMA Plus, New Zealand is proud to provide support that strengthens the industry and to explore innovative ways of expanding trade opportunities for its horticulture sector in ways that benefits both farming households and exporters. The next two weeks of training is all about information and knowledge sharing, harmonising local knowledge with science and research that will help boost watermelon trade from Tonga.”

New Zealand generally imports 800-1,000 tonnes of watermelon from Tonga and Australia during the third quarter of the year, before their local supplies become available. Tonga’s watermelon export season running from July-September, and the training will help the industry improve general practices and procedures for improved quality, TWET chairperson Ms Siutoni Tupou said.

“The training of our farmers by NZ PFR expert entomologist Graham Walker is very timely. It is important to first understand the insect pest of concern, its nature and life cycle before assessing any crop damage and the control required. This supports improvements to Tonga’s export pathway to New Zealand and maintains trade opportunities for our local farmers and exporters."

PHAMA Plus Country Manager at Tonga Mr Tevita Lautaha said that improvements to the watermelon export pathway is a key focus for PHAMA Plus’s work in Tonga. Addition to work on other priority commodities including root crops, kava, vanilla and coconuts. "Developing the export market for watermelons require longer-term investment and commitment from key stakeholders in terms of quality and supply consistency in order to gain market confidence and increased income opportunities for our growers and exporters," he said.

PHAMA Plus is currently supporting the horticultural sector in Tonga, through several partnerships and interventions to increase export volumes and returns to both exporters and farmers, with a long-term goal of increasing overall exports and making a positive contribution to rural household income, including through watermelon exports.

This mission is part of a broader package of technical support provided by Australia and New Zealand through PHAMA Plus, PFR and TWET to improve the quality of watermelons being shipped and placed on the market in New Zealand.