Three floriculture nurseries sheltering thousands of flowering orchids and anthuriums, were officially opened by HM Queen Nanasipau'u this week at the MORDI base in Havelu, Tongatapu. The nurseries will help to elevate the floriculture industry in Tonga and in the region, providing livelihoods for rural women.

The nurseries hold 3,000 orchids of seven varieties with 45 different colors, shared from collections made by South Sea Orchids, and propagated by MORDI Tonga staff over the years.

The Agricultural Coordinator of MORDI Tonga, Mr Tevita Tukia, said the nursery also holds 7,000 Anthuriums of 17 different varieties of colours.

The Queen officially opened the initiative by viewing the three new nurseries housing the orchid and Anthurium collections.

Speaking at the unveiling of the nurseries, the Chair of MORDI Tonga, Dr Seula’a Johansson Fua, said that the transformative impact of the initiative on rural women, providing them with tools and pathways for sustainable economic livelihoods.

Dr. Candra Samekto IFAD Country Director for the Pacific Islands, said IFAD was committed to empowering rural communities and fostering sustainable development across the Pacific Islands.

Guest speaker, Aileen Burness who established South Sea Orchids in the 1970’s with her husband, the late Don Burnes, has been a driving force behind the development of Fiji's commercial floriculture industry. She encouraged Tongan women to stick together to overcome the challenges in elevating the floriculture industry in the region to provide more livelihoods for women.