The diredtor of Tonga's Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Forests and Fisheries Mr Penisimani Vea signed a project for the provision of urgent assistance to small farmers and poor food consumers totaling US$250 000.

The FAO funded project in Tonga will reach out to 3,000 households, providing sows and boars to pig farmers; and vegetable seeds, fertilizers and equipment to increase cassava production and processing cassava into flour.

Mr Penisimani Vea, director of the ministry, signed the project document in Nadi today.

Thanking FAO on behalf of the Tongan government, Mr Vea added that "the ministry shall take appropriate action to ensure that the assistance is effectively delivered for the benefit of the target groups in the country."

Mr Vea is in Fiji attending a three day workshop organized by FAO together with the International Fund for Agricultural Development IFAD) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). Representatives of Pacific countries, development partners, donors and civil society are reviewing a proposal for a multi-year programme for food security and sustainable livelihoods in Pacific island countries.

"The crisis underscores the urgent need to improve food and nutrition security in the country and meeting the immediate needs of vulnerable populations", said Vili Fuavao, FAO's chief in the Pacific.

To break the hunger-poverty trap, action is urgently needed on two fronts, FAO says - making food accessible to the most affected people, and helping small producers raise their outputs and earn more.

Hunger reduction has big payoffs and should be a top development priority, says FAO. FAO,23/09/08.