Tongatapu

Radio Tonga reports Lord Ma’afu has offered 4 acres of land for the new facility.

The pack-house will be funded by the Australian Government and is worth 1.5 million pa’anga.

The facility will have equipment that will be able to fumigate and pre-pack all crops ready for export.

The pack-house is going to be a public-private partnership.

Photo Twitter. Caption: Agriculture show in Vava'u

The project is expected to contribute 7.32% of total power generation in Tonga.

A Minutes of Discussion for the project was signed by officials of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Ministry of MEIDECC, Tonga Power Limited, Ministry of Public Enterprises and Ministry of Finance and National Planning in Nuku’alofa late last week.

The Tongan government said it had requested the project from the government of Japan in 2014.

Radio Tonga reports consent has been made by His Majesty King Tupou the VI after approval by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet that the annual event should be deferred.

Spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries says the conditions at Manamo’ui, where the displays were to be staged were very poor.

Pools of water and mud would have made it difficult for transportation of products and the grounds should dry up before shelters and tents are set up.

Lt Col Maama Misi, Exercise Director said today His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) is being joined by the United States Marines of the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, the New Zealand Defence and the French Army New Caledonia.

He said the bi-annual exercise is aimed not only to develop combat skills of individual soldiers but also enhance the inter-operability capabilities and operation readiness.

The assistance was formalised last week between the CEO of Metrology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate change and Communication, Paula Ma'u and the recipients.

Speaking to Radio Tonga News, Dr Tevita Tukunga says the project will offset high operation costs faced by consumers.

He said residents of the nine villages will now have affordable and clean energy source. The new water pumps will cut costs and ensure sustainable water supplies.