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 with improved access to land, has emerged as an effective approach to strengthening rural livelihoods and supporting inclusive rural development.
Collective Action and Access to Land
In the Leimatu’a District, the Royal Estate of ‘Api ko Fatai was gifted to the communities of Feletoa and Mataika to cultivate. This initiative has enabled many landless households to engage in farming and improve their food security and livelihoods.
Under the leadership of District Officer Mr Paea Uasike, community members organised themselves to farm collectively, grow diverse crops, and share planting materials with other farmers across Tonga. The initiative has also created a steady supply of fresh produce for the national hospital kitchen.
Mr Uasike explains:
Youths harvesting pele from the farm.
“Our community and I farm at the Royal Estate ‘Api ko Fatai. We grow a variety of crops and multiply cuttings to be shared with farmers in Vava’u. We were able to share cassava cuttings with farmers in Ha’apai after the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai disaster. There is an abundance of food that we share with Ngu Hospital, and we have been doing so since we began farming on the royal estate. Our youth used to go around making trouble and stealing crops, but now I have brought them to farm. They are providing steady food for their families and staying out of trouble. Farming at Fatai helps us stay connected to each other, and we enjoy seeing our hard work being enjoyed by our families and the whole community.”
Leimatu’a District Officer Mr. Paea Uasike
Strengthening Market and Service Linkages
Farmer groups provide a platform for smallholders to coordinate production and link to buyers and service providers. By working together, farmers can improve product quality, ensure consistent supply, and establish reliable relationships with institutions such as hospitals, schools, and local markets.
Collective marketing and coordinated production also strengthen farmers’ bargaining power and reduce transaction costs, improving overall returns for rural households.
Learning, Innovation, and Peer Support
Group-based farming encourages knowledge sharing and innovation. Farmers exchange planting materials, share techniques, and support each other in adopting improved agricultural practices. This peer learning model is particularly important in rural Tonga, where extension services can be limited and farmers rely heavily on community knowledge networks.
The sharing of cassava cuttings to Ha’apai following the 2022 volcanic eruption and tsunami demonstrates how farmer groups can support recovery and strengthen inter-island solidarity.
Mr Paea Uasike along with Feletoa youth offloading crops to the hospital
Engaging Youth and Strengthening Social Cohesion
Farmer groups also play an important role in engaging youth and strengthening social cohesion. In Feletoa and Mataika, youth participation in farming has provided productive livelihoods and helped reduce antisocial behaviour, while fostering a sense of belonging and shared responsibility.
Collective farming activities strengthen relationships within communities and reinforce traditional values of cooperation and mutual support.
Building Resilience Through Collective Farming
Tonga’s rural communities face frequent natural hazards, including cyclones, droughts, and volcanic events. Farmer groups enhance resilience by enabling collective planning, shared resources, and coordinated responses to shocks.
Diversified cropping, shared planting materials, and institutional market linkages help communities recover more quickly and maintain food supplies during disruptions.
Moving forward
Farmer groups, supported by improved access to land, offer a powerful pathway for inclusive rural development in Tonga. They strengthen food security, generate income, engage youth, and build resilient communities.
MORDI Tonga Trust continues to support farmer groups as part of its broader commitment to sustainable livelihoods, social cohesion, and resilient rural communities.
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