A local farm in the village of Talasiu, owned by smallholder farmer Sosefo Amone, has been selected as one of six pilot sites for a new drip-irrigation system aimed at mitigating the effects of recent droughts on watermelon crops.
This initiative is supported by the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Program (PHAMA Plus) in collaboration with Nishi Trading.
The pilot project, launched last Friday during the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, is part of a broader effort to improve food security and agricultural resilience in Tonga amidst the growing challenges posed by climate change.
The project is also supported by New Zealand’s Plant and Food Research, which has partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Forest to promote sustainable agricultural practices and improve livelihoods in the region.
New Zealand and Australia, through PHAMA Plus, are providing essential backing for this initiative. The project aims to equip smallholder farmers like Sosefo Amone with modern irrigation technology to address issues such as irregular rainfall, extreme weather events, and prolonged droughts that have severely impacted watermelon production.
PHAMA Plus is working closely with Nishi Trading and its network of smallholder farmers to test and refine these irrigation methods. If successful, the pilot program could pave the way for broader access to this technology, benefiting farmers within the Nishi Trading supply chain and beyond.
This initiative is seen as a vital step towards building climate-resilient agriculture and ensuring the long-term food and nutritional security of the Pacific Islands.
