As in most Pacific countries, subsistence production for domestic use is an important part of the economy, although not well recorded. The export of agricultural products has been highly unpredictable over time. Through most of the 20th century, Tonga’s main export was coconut products, mainly copra (dried coconut meat yielding coconut oil), but at various times other products have been exported in sizeable quantities, particularly bananas.

A specialized market for squash was established in the 1980s when Tonga secured a quota to supply the vegetable to Japan during several months of the year when other sources, especially New Zealand, were not producing. In the early 1990s, this source of export income grew, but in the second half of that decade, production fluctuated considerably as a result of disease, weather, and oversupply. Other squash producers from Vanuatu and Mexico have also offered competition by entering the same market.

Other agricultural products, such as bananas and market vegetables, are significant in the domestic market but have contributed very little to export income in recent years. Even vanilla beans, which were significant exports in the early 1990s, have declined in importance because of international competition. There has been a small but steady export of root crops, mostly to supply Tongan and other Pacific communities, especially in New Zealand. Kava (a mild legal narcotic) production has increased recently, and this has considerable export potential as illustrated by the success of this industry in Vanuatu.

Fish was the second most important export during the 1990s, mainly high-grade tuna and snapper. The potential sustainable harvest of tuna is about 30,000 tons a year, which is several times higher than the existing harvest. Most fish is exported unprocessed to the United States, Fiji, and American Samoa. A cannery in Tonga is under consideration, but a restraining factor is government legislation requiring that 90 percent of sales from such a venture would have to be to overseas buyers.

Growers Federation of Tonga Inc. (GroFed)
Location: FWC Buildings Fasimoeafi, Salote Road, Nuku’alofa, Tonga
Contact Person: Sinai Tuitahi
Phone: +676 28746/ +676 775 8250
E-mail: tavanagroup@kalianet.to

The Growers Federation of Tonga Inc. was established in 2008, and has 1,200 members and covers 17 districts. It focuses mainly on marketing, on farm support, and advocacy. Its vision is a Profitable and Sustainable Growth of the Tongan Agricultural Sector. Its mission is to be a peak industry body representing the interest of private sector growers, producers, processors and exporters achieving its vision through sector leadership, advocacy, farm extension services, and addressing export pathway and market access issues. Its strategic objectives include: peak organization that is financially, environmentally and socially sustainable; sustainable water supply for growers; public goods that benefits growers and exporters; agro-based import substitution; healthy livestock; and socially responsible for growers. Its achievements include: exporting of growers produces; influencing at high level policy-making with unified vision of the industry players; coordinating and contributing to the production of Tonga’s first even Agricultural Sector Plan; and contribution to addressing the market access issues such as prioritization and putting up of facilities to assist in market access.

Mainstreaming of Rural Development Innovation (MORDI) Tonga Trust
Location: MORDI Tonga Trust, P.O Box 966, Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu Kingdom of Tonga
Contact Person: Soane Patolo
Phone: (676) 25 995, (676) 7851585
E-mail: soanejr@morditonga.to

The Mainstreaming of Rural Development Innovation Tonga Trust is a Non-Government Organization in Tonga that focuses its help on isolated remote rural communities within Tonga. It helps to shift the communities’ way of thinking in order to help them advance into a better state of living, one which is more sustainable. The Programme, which became operational in 2005, has four distinct objectives: (i) institutional strengthening of existing community-based organizations (CBOs) of youth and women as well as community institutions; (ii) increase employment and sustainable livelihood opportunities especially for youth and women; (iii) documentation of sharing of learning from best practices and innovations across the region; and (iv) establishment of sustainable processes that enable remote rural communities to link with national policy and planning processes.

The goal of the project is to “contribute to the improved sustainable livelihoods of vulnerable communities in rural areas of Tonga”. The development objective is to “strengthen the capacity of target communities to plan and manage their development priorities in order to achieve improved sustainable livelihoods”.

Tonga Trust empowers the rural isolated communities to fight against poverty. This is achievable through provision of skill development trainings and implementation of community development projects. Working in partnership with other organization’s MORDI Tonga is able to educate these communities and move them into a better state of well-being.

MORDI Tonga Trust is funded by donors, such as IFAD and NZAID that want to help them achieve their goals.

Nishi Trading
Location: PO Box 1345, Utulau, Nukualofa, Tonga
Contact: Minoru Nishi
E-mail: nishitrading.to@gmail.com

The Nishi Trading was founded in the early 70s and operated by Minoru Nishi Snr until 2008 when he retired and his son, Minoru Nishi Jnr, took over as Managing Director.

Nishi Trading began as a commercial farm for exports, diversifing over the years to include Imports and complementary services such as a farming supplies store, a quarry for manufactured and raw construction materials, a pest management service, training center, a foundation for community support and most recently, built Tonga’s first international standard, food processing facility in partnership with IACT.

Nishi Trading’s processing facility has become the Pacific’s first Sea Container Hygiene System (SCHS) approved warehouse by New Zealand’s Ministry of Prime Industries (MPI).

With a vision to lift international recognition for Quality export products from Tonga, Nishi Trading continues to invest in local produce, working with farmers, government and other stakeholders to further develop the Agriculture Industry in Tonga.

Managing Director, Minoru Nishi Jr says “…it is of utmost importance that we ensure our produce is looked after from the fields of our small farmers to the plates of our customers”.