Farmers in ‘Eua and Niuafo’ou are expected to receive refurbished agricultural tractors to help them farm more lands and grow more crops.
Three of the four Massey Ferguson tractors would be taken to ‘Eua while one goes to Niuafo’ou. They will be shipped shortly.
The tractors, worth TP$128,873.71 in total, were purchased through fund donated by the people of the islands and part funded by the Tongan government through Tonga Rural Innovation Project as well as the International Funds for Agricultural Development.
A statement from Tonga's Ministry of Forestry and Fisheries says: “ These machineries are greatly needed in ‘Eua to improve small scale farmers’ production especially as market access is a priority to the farmers to export their products.
“Farmers are also seeing the benefits of vanilla production as they worked together with Heilala Vanilla this year which the search for the tractors in New Zealand was made possible through Heilala Vanilla Company.
“Niuafo’ou has made a great impression at this year’s Royal Agriculture Show and their new tractor will give farmers a boost in their production and open new opportunities for their economic benefit”.
