Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in partnership with the Mainstreaming of Rural Development Innovation Tonga Trust (MORDI TT) started a research on open pollinated seeds.

15 Dec Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in partnership with the Mainstreaming of Rural Development Innovation Tonga Trust (MORDI TT) started a research on open pollinated seeds.

2021/07/06 – Addressing the challenges faced by Tonga’s rural communities is the aim of “Research on Open Pollinated Seeds” which will be implemented in Tonga as a joint partnership between JICA and MORDI TT. This project comes at a critical time for Tonga as communities continue to face threats from COVID-19, rising seeds prices, economic difficulties and the effects of climate change.

Mr. Hiroaki TAKASHIMA Resident Representative of JICA Tonga Office signed a contract service with MORDI TT Chief Executive Officer Mr. Soane PATOLO Jr. The research will be carried out in a 9-month period and it will focus on developing a sustainable open pollinated seeds production and processing system. This research is part of the Government of Japan’s assistance to Tonga in preparedness activities to combat COVID-19.

The research will also include an expansion of MORDI TT’s nursery, a processing and cooling facility for processing and storage of open pollinated seeds.
The seed collection will be made through an open pollinated seed supplier and sourcing from MORDI Tonga’s 122 target rural communities in Tonga. These can include local fruits and traditional medicinal plants as well as indigenous plants that are hard to come by nowadays in Tonga. Once the seeds are sourced and multiplied, they will be made available to the communities at a more affordable rate.

COVID-19 has caused a global upheaval and despite Tonga not having any known cases reach its shore, the reality of it making it from Fiji to our doorstep looms even greater. While we have watched our brethren suffer during these recent times MORDI Tonga is mobilizing efforts on the ground to address precautionary measures in place. A majority of Tonga’s population have health related issues and COVID-19 has presented us with multiple risks to our livelihoods, economically we have suffered a devastating blow to one of our pillars of income – tourism.

The initiative of open seed multiplication is to bring about ways where the increase of food and nutrition security is in place especially for the most vulnerable of the communities. It will increase efforts to become self-sufficient, promote circular economies and bolster resilience of the communities.