Results for Agriculture

Investment in Kava is critical in order to enhance its value and take it to global markets, Tonga's Minister for Agriculture, Foods and Forestry, Lord Fohe, told a Kava national consultation in Nuku'alofa recently. Regional consultations are soliciting the views of individual Pacific Island countries and kava stakeholders in order to determine the priorities for the development of a Pacific Regional Kava Strategy.

A group of soil scientists have embarked on a quest to determine the impact of the volcanic ash fall and tsunami caused by the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai volcanic eruption that occurred near Tonga in January this year. Core soil samples collected from areas on Tongatapu and 'Eua will be undergo DNA and chemical analysis at CSIRO’s Analytical Services Unit laboratory in Australia before being archived for future research.

Canned pork, gifted to Tonga as part of Chinese emergency food aid delivery, became the source of a diplomatic incident between the development partners, after Tongan officials stopped the distribution of swine products. The Tonga government expressed “profound regrets”.

Vulnerable rural farmers in Tonga will receive a range of services and support to improve farm productivity and their livelihoods under the Pacific Islands Rural & Agricultural Stimulus Facility (PIRAS) project, launched at Falemasiva Hall, Tailulu College on December 2. By Eleanor Gee.

Tonga is looking to produce a seed collection and storage system to strengthen food security. Research will be carried out with support from the Japanese Government through MORDI Tonga Trust. Seeds may include local fruits and traditional medicinal plants as well as indigenous plants.

HM Queen Nanasipau’u toured MORDI Tonga headquarters and plantation at Havelu today in support of local food farming.

King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u launched the ‘Api-ko-Fatai cluster farming initiative for the communities of Feletoa and Mataika in Vava’u on March 18.

The first shipment of 16.6 metric tonnes of Tongan watermelons was exported to Auckland, New Zealand on December 17, after the October ban was lifted. It is a new milestone for Tonga's agricultural sector, said local farmer and exporter, Minoru Nishi Jr today.

Thousands of vegetable seeds, such as spinach, eggplant, capsicum, carrot, and more, were donated to the ‘Eua community by Heilala Vanilla, to help them establish a sustainable nursery to support their families.