By Tupou Vaipulu Jr.

One of two demonstration Organic Learning Farms, the Mahuleva Farm on Tongatapu was launched today, 8 August 2023. Another in Vava’u, the ‘Ovava Farm, will be launched soon.

The two farms will become learning centres that demonstrate the benefits of natural-based solutions such as agroecology, agroforestry, organic production methods and technologies, in a project implemented by SPC.

They will serve as training centres for farmer to farmer training in agroecological practices and to facilitate access to and distribution of adaptive crops, trees and biodiversity.

After the launch, a first circle of farmers will be trained through the farms and will be supported to convert their farms to organic, agroecological practices and access planting materials to increase biodiversity.

It will enhance the ecosystem services, biodiversity, resilient food systems and also improve the livelihood of the people.

The Deputy Director of Land Resources Divisions (SPC), Ms Florence Rahiria said that SPC takes pride in this project and what it promotes.

“Over the years SPC has increasingly invested its resources to enhance the institutional capacities and the wants of our partners to apply a people centered approaches where we are supporting initiatives that recognise and value the shared and individual contributions of man, women and youth and the contributions they make to implement our land and sea resources.”

The CEO for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests (MAFF), Dr Viliami Manu said that this will also contribute to increasing Tonga's independence and decrease our reliance on imported goods.

KIWA

The Pacific Organic Learning Farms Network (POLFN) is project that falls under the Kiwa Initiative.

The Kiwa Initiative is a multi-donor program that aims to strengthen the climate resilience of ecosystems, communities and economies in Pacific Island countries and territories, by using and promoting Nature-based solutions to protect, restore and sustainably manage biodiversity.

The Kiwa Initiative was launched in 2020 and the POLFN project began in 2021 and will run until 2025. It is currently operational in Fiji, Nauru, Solomon Islands and now in Tonga. This also includes exchange and learning components with Wallis and Futuna, New Caledonia and French Polynesia.

In collaboration with the PROTÉGÉ project, both POLFN and PROTÉGÉ are implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC).