In Tonga, much of the work towards the food resilience pathways has been completed – but the Live & Learn team continues to work closely with the communities to ensure that the benefits are not only spread throughout as much of the community as possible, but also to embed these practices and knowledge for a lasting impact.
Recently the team visited Vava’u communities to distribute peanut seeds and seedlings for vegetables like tomato and capsicum, while also providing refresher trainings, with the intention of promoting good health, reducing reliance on purchased food and improving soil nutrients.
‘The refresher training can encourage the communities to prepare their spot for planting and build the resilience to the adverse effects of climate change,’ the team said. ‘It will enhance the sustainability of their food security.’
Already this pathway has provided several trainings and considerable gardening equipment to boost the communities’ local food sources and possible income sources – and there has been a clear change in participating communities already.
Ana, a Holeva resident who oversees the women’s group and has been an active programme participant, is using the skills and equipment provided to grow vegetables in her backyard for her family.
She has also been sharing her newfound knowledge with other women in Holeva who are not as active in the programme.
‘This improves my family’s access to nutritious food,’ Ana said. ‘These are the tools/resources and knowledge we need to thrive in our environment and wellbeing.’
Tema, secretary of the Ha’alaufuli/Ta’anea CRI Committee, has also been heavily involved in this work, showing eagerness to not only cultivate her own vegetables but also to help contribute to the efforts of others.
‘By enabling community members to take control of their own food production, Tema’ contributions not only increase the availability of food right now, but also promote long-term resilience,’ the team said.
Tema sees assisting others as being equally important as growing her own food in the journey to improve food security and climate resilience into the future, saying that agriculture is one way in which values like respect, care and collaboration can be demonstrated.
‘A decent heart treats others with respect,’ she said. ‘Together we cultivate not just our gardens, but our community.’
Naitingi, chairperson of the ‘Utulei women’s committee, is playing a similar role in her community, and has been actively incorporating Indigenous knowledge in her gardening techniques, which has helped her produce enough to sell crops at local markets. A passionate advocate of healthy eating, Naitingi has also been encouraging others in ‘Utulei, particularly the women, to grow vegetables and eat healthily.
‘Eat healthy, be healthy and live fully,’ she says.
‘If we continue to eat healthily, we will live long, and our children will follow that pathway and continue that from generation to generation.’
