A solar-powered desalination plant has been launched in Tonga to aid agriculture amid climate challenges.
The new solar-powered desalination system was launched by Lord Ma’afu at Nishi Trading Farm in Vaini yesterday as part of the Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry. The initiative aims to combat the effects of drought and seawater intrusion on farmland by converting seawater into irrigation water.
The project is a collaboration between the Australian National University (ANU), Nishi Trading, and Solar Water Solutions Pacific, with support from the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It serves as a pilot to assess the viability of solar desalination for agriculture across the Pacific region.
Nishi Trading’s Managing Director, Minoru Nishi, said that this having this kind of technology provides local farmers with sustainable solutions to the impacts of climate change.
The launch aligns with the Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry’s theme of transforming agriculture and forestry for greater resilience. The event, held from 26–30 May in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, brought together regional leaders and experts to discuss sustainable solutions for the Pacific’s agricultural challenges.
