Results for Agriculture

A new strategy, ‘Growing the Pacific 2050 Strategy for Agriculture and Forestry’, was endorsed by Pacific Island countries at the Regional Meeting of Ministers for Agriculture and Forestry, in Nuku’alofa, last week.

The Pacific Farmer Organizations (PFO) will receive AUD$3 million in funding from the Australian Government to support climate-resilient farming initiatives in seven Pacific countries, including Tonga, over the next four years.

Imports of raw poultry meat have been restricted by the Ministry of Agriculture (MAFF) to prevent the bird flu, a type of avian influenza that has spread across areas in three countries, the US, Australia, and New Zealand, that are Tonga's main source of chicken, turkey, and duck meat imports. Individual passengers from USA, Australia and New Zealand may not bring in raw poultry meat, although cooked poultry is allowed.

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.