Agriculture

Concerns for food security and agriculture in Tonga

He made the comment at the 36th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific in Dhaka, Bangladesh from March 8-11, 2022.

Hu’akavameiliku who is also Acting Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forests said Tonga is also ranked third as the world’s ‘most at risk’ country to the effects of climate change, with 80 percent of its population living on the coastlines.

Seeds bound for Tonga to help farmers replant after volcanic eruption

Both food gardens and commercial production were affected by the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, two weeks ago.

As Tonga begins to rebuild and farmers look to replant their gardens - organisations like the Pacific Community, SPC are stepping forward to help.

SPC’s head of Land Resources Pila Kami said it was the ash that caused the most damage.

“We grow a lot of sweet potatoes or dalo – we also grow a lot of yams. A lot of these root crops will need be harvested and replanted,” he said.

Pacific agriculture and forestry leaders eye progress post COVID-19

The Government of Fiji hosted the Seventh Regional Meeting of the Pacific Heads of Agriculture and Forestry Services (PHOAFS), held virtually from 25 – 27 August with partners the Pacific Community (SPC), Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Fiji Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry.  

Tonga ships squash to China for the first time

Squash remains the country's main agricultural export, with Korea and Japan the traditional markets.

The chief executive of the Agrculture Ministry, Viliami Manu said a critical factor is being able to service those markets in late November and early December when Tonga is able to command better prices.

He said efforts to secure a market in China had been underway for a year.

Caribbean-Pacific exchange to strengthen capacity for crop researchers and extension officers

The participants are from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Vanuatu and the Pacific Community (SPC).

The exchange is supported by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA), the Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and SPC through the European Union supported Agriculture Policy Project (PAPP).

Hacking the farm: How farmers use 'digital agriculture' to grow more crops

Meanwhile, the amount of arable land is decreasing, and farmers face mounting challenges.

Climate Corporation aims to take the guesswork out of issues like weather and crop disease. The 10-year-old company offers a slate of "digital agriculture" tools that provide a real-time, Facebook-esque feed about what's happening on a farm at every moment.

Pacific urged to invest more in Agriculture

The team leader of SPC's Pacific agriculture policy project, Vili Caniogo, says more than 80 percent of the region's population live in rural areas but this is not reflected in government policies.

Pacific eager to learn from Caribbean

A small but energetic team of agriculture and food production stakeholders and entrepreneurs from the Pacific are currently in the Caribbean region this week exchanging ideas with their Caribbean colleagues with the hope of bringing back home valuable ideas.                                                   

The Caribbean and Pacific Agrifood Forum - innovative solutions for small island states

Some 250 leaders, decision-makers and agrifood actors will be gathering for the first Caribbean and Pacific Agrifood Forum. A key event for both regions, the forum will be held from November 2 to 6, an action-packed week devoted to exploring how an agribusiness approach can drive rural development in small island states.