Mina’ati Fifita, a farmer from Koloa village in Vava’u, is optimistic about the future of organic farming, believing it will greatly benefit her family’s health. Fifita, who runs a farm with a variety of fruits and vegetables, was among 40 small-scale farmers who participated in a two-day training at the ‘Ovava Organic Learning Farm Centre in Vava’u last month.
This training, the first of its kind provided by the Ovava Organic Learning Farm Centre through the Pacific Organic Learning Farms Network (POLFN) Project, marks a step forward in promoting agroecology and organic practices in Vava’u. Of the participants, half of them were women.
The hands-on training covered critical topics such as soil health, sustainable pest management, crop rotation, and organic fertilisation techniques, integrating traditional farming knowledge with modern practices.
Farm Advisor and Lead Trainer Amanaki Funaki emphasised the cost-effectiveness and long-term environmental benefits of organic farming, noting the participants’ enthusiasm for preserving a healthy land for future generations.
The POLFN project, funded by the Kiwa Initiative and implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC), aims to support 100 family-run farms across Tongatapu and Vava’u, fostering sustainable agriculture and enhancing community development through nature-based solutions.
