The Tonga Squash Council believes that this year's squash harvest will fall short of the 5,000 tonnes that it targeted for export this year.

The Secretary General of the Tonga Squash Council, Steve Edwards said last week that their first shipment left Nuku'alofa on October 24 with 2,428 tonnes, a little less than their target of 2,500 tonnes.

A similar lower yield is also expected for their second and final shipment for the year.

By the end of last week they had loaded 1,400 tonnes for the second shipment and Steve said that while they were still expecting to load a few more tonnes, it was certain they would be short of their target when the ship departs on November 13.

Steve said that is not just Tonga who was experiencing low yields this season, as New Caledonia and Mexico were also reported to be exporting less than expected.

"At this point we expect that with the lesser tonnage the price will increase and it's great because if our squash secures a good price it would encourage the squash industry to keep going," said Steve.

Government squash

The Ministry of Agriculture, which stepped into the squash industry for the first time this year as one of the growers exported only 30 tonnes of squash in the first shipment.

Steve said they expect them to export a total of 80 to 100 tonnes this season through the Touliki Enterprise.

"It's not just the Ministry of Agriculture who are exporting less, all Tongan squash growers this year are experiencing a low yield," said Steve.

Tonga exported 10,215 tonnes of squash last year, and at the beginning of this year the Tonga Squash Council aimed to export 6,355 tonnes which was later reduced to a 5,000 tonnes target.