The Pasifika Safe Shelter Trust, a New Zealand charity, is seeking second-hand tractors to assist farmers in Tonga with tilling their ash-covered soil.
Since the volcanic eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai last year, which resulted in extensive ash deposits on fields, the trust has sent several refurbished tractors to Tonga.
According to Chairman Peter Rodwell, there remains a need for equipment to mix the volcanic ash into the soil, allowing crops to thrive. The ash is known to contain beneficial elements for agriculture.
The charity is specifically looking for non-electronic tractors, particularly older models such as Massey Fergusons, as they are relatively easier to repair.
Rodwell mentioned that newly sent tractors, including modern Chinese models, have experienced breakdowns that local technicians cannot address due to their complex computerized systems. As a result, these tractors have been left in disrepair along the roads.
The charity aims to support the predominantly female farmers who have taken on agricultural responsibilities since many young men have joined seasonal labor gangs in Australia and New Zealand.
Collaborating with a local Tongan charity, the trust plans to provide training for women in tractor operation, plowing, and other agricultural skills. Their partner organization is also establishing a system to ensure that the poorest farmers have improved access to tractors, addressing past disparities where large landholders dominated tractor ownership.
To support this initiative, the trust encourages individuals to consider donating their old tractors, particularly classic models from the Massey Ferguson 100 or 200 series. Ford tractors, disc ploughs, and relatively narrow slasher mowers are also sought after.
Instead of using these tractors as anchors for irrigation lines, the charity suggests refurbishing and repurposing them to assist farmers in Tonga.
The Pasifika Safe Shelter Trust welcomes inquiries and contributions from those willing to support this endeavor.
