Results for Agriculture

Breadfruit is the Pacific’s most climate-resilient crop due its ability to survive and withstand natural disasters, said Kyle Stice, Executive Director of the Pacific Island Farmers Organization, at the opening of the Breadfruit Festival 2024 in Tonga,

The prices of yam, taro, cassava, and other agricultural crops, are significantly high this year due to the shortage of local supply, and this is an impact of climate change, said the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and Forest, Lord Fohe, on the opening of the one-day Tongatapu Royal Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism and Trade Show 2024 today. HRH Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala officially opened the show this afternoon, 24 August

Tonga’s watermelon export crops will soon benefit from smart irrigation systems and improved cold storage, following a new partnership signed between Nishi Trading Company Limited and the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Plus (PHAMA Plus) Program, supported by Australia and New Zealand.

A mei (breadfruit) festival was held to celebrate the versatility of breadfruits as stable and resilient food crop for Tonga, with the theme, “Our actions on Mei for Health, Education and Economic Development are our future.”

Tonga Circular Economy System (Tonga CES) aims to develop a zero-waste system, that might potentially provide Tonga with renewable energy, and food - such as poultry and corn.

The biggest hog farm in Tonga, Season Farm at 'Utulau, is raising over 200 commercial swines (sinamanu) and 5000 piglets. Owners, Lu and Emily Lin, led a tour around the farm with the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and Forest, Lord Fohe, and CEO Dr. Viliami Toalei Manu, on 13 October. They hope that locally farmed meat can help reduce Tonga's high imports of poultry.

Tongan agricultural exporters, Nishi Trading have started trialling air freight shipments of produce, an approach to ensure that fresh quality exports reach customers and markets in New Zealand.

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.

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.