root crop value chains

This partnership brings together Tongan agribusiness Nishi Trading and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to increase productivity of existing root crop exports and add new value-added product lines. Nishi Trading will build a cool storage facility, benefiting farmers through less product wastage resulting in increased incomes. Nishi Trading will also lease land to female smallholder suppliers, while partner NGO Mainstreaming of Rural Development Innovation (MORDI) will support farmers through field schools with a focus on farming value chains and nutrition.

This partnership will support Nishi Trading to capitalise on an identified market opportunity. It will increase export sales of locally grown produce and create opportunities for competitive import substitution. In the process, farmer incomes will increase, and women will be supported to move into the agricultural value chain.

PACIFIC HORTICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL MARKET ACCESS (PHAMA) PLUS PROGRAM

In Tonga , PHAMA Plus collaborated with private & public sectors to support increased production and maintain export markets for root crops and horticulture products. PHAMA Plus has worked with Nishi Trading Ltd to improve yield, supply and export of horticulture products from Tonga.

JICA & TOKYO UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE PARTNERSHIP - BREADFRUIT PROJECT

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funded a 5 year project between the The Tokyo University of Agriculture (TUA), Government of Tonga, Mainstreaming of Rural Development Innovation Tonga Trust (MORDI TT) and Nishi Trading Co. Limited for the ‘Improvement of Livelihood and Health Conditions of Tongan People by the Effective Utilization and Processing Products of Breadfruit.

The project aims to combat lifestyle diseases and poverty issues that arise from the increasing dependency on imported food. In order to decrease the dependancy on imported food and the improve the livelihoods of local Tongans, there needs to be a re-evaluation of traditional food resources. Through extensive research the Tokyo University of Agriculture found that breadfruit was found to be be neglected and wasted.

The project is working with communities to reevaluate the usefulness of breadfruit development with new cultivation techniques of breadfruit, expansion of new processing technology, development of new value chain of breadfruit by increasing exports and the development of social business by the collaborative activities of private sector and the community.

AUSTRALIAN CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH - CITRUS PROJECT

A 4 year project that aimed to increase the efficiency of fruit value chains, provide targeted capacity building to the private sector and government extension services and enhance the engagement of smallholder farmers and communities in managed orchards to reduce fruit imports and improve nutrition.

Professor Underhill from the University of Sunshine Coast worked alongside Nishi Trading as a commercial partner and MORDI Tonga providing the community interface to set up five commercial orchards in Tongatapu and ‘Eua. ACIAR have also contributed extensively through faciliated training and capacity building in citrus planting, fertilizing, pruning, weed control, irrigation and pest and disease identification and control.

‘Citrus has a number of benefits: it’s counter seasonal in winter months so there is supply when other fruit is not available, it’s relatively drought tolerant, and while it requires a level of post-harvest handling, it also has a long shelf life. One of the major benefits of having locally grown fruit is that it will help to combat the high incidence of non-communicable diseases in the Pacific such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.’ says Professor Underhill

brother international & pacific corporation foundation - zeamays feasibility project

An FAO report identified an opportunity for the production of maize to be grown for animal feed. This would reduce imports and provide an alternate income to farmers

The Project aim was to find the most suitable variety of maize for animal feed to reduce imports and provide farmers with a sustainable alternate income that required simple agronomy practice.

Target - Small-holder farmers and commercial farmers

Project Outputs

(1). To provide the Kingdom of Tonga with other sources of food security;

(2). Provide import substitution options;

Project Activities

(1). Feasibility trials of potential seed varieties

(2). Trial suitable agronomy techniques

(3). Demonstration Plots in 4 Communities

Nishi Foundation & National Rugby League - NRL in Tonga

Nishi Trading Foundation is the community support arm of the Nishi Trading Company, driving or backing projects that have an impact on improving standard of life in the local community. The Foundation also supports an annual cooking competition. Smallholder farmers and their communities are also encouraged to contribute to shaping the food system in Tonga as well as diversify crop production to strengthen the link between production, income generation, health and nutrition and economic growth.

Mai e Nima has been in existence since 2012 and was originally a project delivered by the Nishi Foundation. Mai e Nima or Give Me Five aims to improve the health and well being of primary school students by educating them about the benefits of eating a variety of fruit and vegetables and as a result, establish life-long healthy eating habits.

With the formation of a partnership with the NRL Tonga the Mai e Nima message and philosophy is enhanced with their healthy lifestyle and wellbeing program that includes rugby league and other sport throughout Tongatapu and the outer islands. The organisation is supported by a committee and is a not for profit group working closely with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health as part of the national drive to fight the current non-communicable disease crisis in Tonga.

pifon - pacific island farmers organisation network

PIFON serves as a regional umbrella organisation for national farmer organisations in 9 countries in the Pacific (Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, PNG, Solomon's, Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Timor Leste) its Secretariat is based in Nadi, Fiji. PIFON as the regional farmer organisation network exists to create linkages between national farmer organisations and to improve the flow of relevant information and resources to facilitate the participation of rural households in income earning agriculture.