Tonga launch a five year agriculture sector plan worth over top $42 million

The Minister of Agriculture, Food, Forestry and Fisheries – Hon. Semisi Fakahau has launched Tonga’s sector plan for Agriculture and Fisheries known as the TASP. The plan presents the vision and the priorities to maximize contribution from the agricultural sector to the Kingdom’s economic growth and sustained food security in the face of changing world economy and looming climate change. The five year phase will cost more than TOP$42 million and expected to boost rural incomes and agriculture exports and displace meat imports. The TOP$42 million budget will be cover for projects towards farmer’s knowledge and practices, young people and agriculture and salable agriculture products. In the remarks by Hon. Semisi Fakahau, he highlighted that both sector plans have been approved by Cabinet to be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in the next five consecutive years. The meeting is to re-look the details of technical aspects of both sector plans and the estimated cost for the implementation of each program and sub programs under each plan. “What I value the most is the fact that you did not come to Tonga and just to tell us in a nice way that you are here to provide us with the sector plans that you think will be most suitable for the future development of the agriculture and fisheries sectors of the country. Instead you came and stated clearly right from day one that you are here to work with use and to produce the sector plans that we the Ministry, the agriculture and fisheries sectors stakeholders and the rural agriculture and coastal fishing communities believe that will meet the social and economic development needs of the two sectors.”

Full Article: http://www.tonga-broadcasting.net/?p=1492