In many elementary schools across Tonga, classrooms function despite severe shortages of basic learning resources such as desks and chairs. Recognising this challenge, Rotary New Zealand, in partnership with MORDI Tonga Trust, has embarked on a collaborative effort to survey primary schools and donate much‑needed...
MORDI Tonga has established a controlled-environment nursery using Mapal soilless cultivation technology developed in Israel. This investment represents a strategic intervention to strengthen seed propagation systems and improve the reliability, efficiency, and scalability of seedling production for rural communities. The Mapal system utilizes soilless troughs and...
The future of rural development in Tonga has taken a significant step forward with the signing of the Tonga Rural Innovation Project Phase III (TRIP III), a major new investment aimed at strengthening climate resilience, supporting livelihoods, and empowering rural communities across the country. CEO Kilisitina...
MORDI Tonga Trust continues to invest in strengthening its leadership and technical capacity to deliver high-quality, climate-resilient development programs across rural Tonga. As part of this commitment, MORDI’s Chief Operating Officer (Finance), Mr Lorfan Pomana, has embarked on short-term training in Infrastructure Project Management under...
In Tonga, where climate hazards are a recurring reality, the difference between disaster and resilience often lies in access to timely and reliable information. For rural communities that depend on agriculture, fisheries, and natural resources for their livelihoods, early warning systems are not just technical...
On the scattered islands of Tonga, farming has always been both a livelihood and a way of life. Yet for many rural households, climate change is making that life increasingly uncertain. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts and stronger cyclones are disrupting planting cycles and...
Smallholder farmers are central to Tonga’s rural economy and food systems. However, many farmers operate individually, with limited access to land, markets, finance, extension services, and infrastructure. This can restrict productivity, reduce incomes, and increase vulnerability to climate and economic shocks. Organising farmers into groups, combined...
In Tonga, rural communities face growing challenges from climate change and migration to limited infrastructure and market opportunities. Traditionally, development planning has often been driven by external agencies, but recent approaches have shifted toward community-led planning, placing villagers at the centre of decision-making. Through various development...
MORDI Tonga Trust warmly congratulates Ms. Aileen Burness on her appointment as the new Chairlady of the Pacific Islands Farmers Organisation Network (PIFON), and extends heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Minoru Nishi as he concludes his term as Chairman. Congratulations to Chairlady Aileen Burness Ms. Aileen Burness brings...
MORDI Tonga Trust is proud to mark the successful completion of the Tonga Rural Innovation Project – Phase II (TRIP II), a transformative seven-year initiative supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and implemented in partnership with the Government of Tonga. Since its inception,...