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Organic training brings new knowledge and hope to farmers in Tonga
Mina’ati Fifita, a farmer from the village of Koloa, says organic farming will become a new way of life, bringing her family to a much healthier state. Fifita runs her own farm, planting a variety of backyard fruits and vegetables with her family.
Ms Fifita was among 40 small-scale farmers, of which 45% were women, participating in a two-day training between 29 – 30 July 2024 at the ‘Ovava Organic Learning Farm Centre in Vava’I Island, Tonga. This training will advance agroecology and organic farming practices in the Vava'u island group, marking a significant milestone as the very first training provided by the Ovava Organic Learning Farm Centre since its launch through the Pacific Organic Learning Farms Network (POLFN) Project in 2023.
The training provided a ‘hands-on’ approach and covered essential topics including soil health, sustainable pest and insect management, crop rotation, and organic fertilisation techniques, as well as traditional farming practices passed down through generations.
Farm Advisor and Lead Trainer Amanaki Funaki was grateful to have kickstarted their first training for the year and shared, “We had a great and beautiful training session with the participants. I noticed that most of the concepts we discussed were new knowledge to them, but these are what our ancestors have been practicing in the past. A very important comment from the participants is how cost-effective it is to farm organically. Most importantly, the participants were encouraged by the idea of leaving behind a healthy land and environment for the future generation.”
The series of upcoming trainings represents a significant investment in sustainable agriculture in Tonga. The POLFN project is implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC) through the Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community and funded by the Kiwa Initiative. POLFN aims to benefit a total of 100 family-run farms in Tongatapu and Vava’u in Tonga. The POLFN Project is dedicated to establishing a network of organic farms that exemplifies nature-based solutions such as agroecology, agroforestry, and various innovative organic production methods and technologies. The network will not only uplift Tongan families but also promote broader social and economic development within local communities.
About POETCom
The Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community (POETCom) is a not-for-profit organisation with active members, farmer associations, farmer support organisations, NGOs, the private sector, research institutions and works with governments across the Pacific Island region. POETCom is hosted by the Land Resources Division (LRD) of the Pacific Community (SPC) in Suva, Fiji.
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