Ginger is a high-value crop in Tonga with strong local demand and export potential. It grows well in Tonga’s tropical climate and can provide good income for smallholder farmers. Some may find it tedious to grow due to growth time but they make the perfect choice to intercrop amongst other crops in your garden. Plant and walk away and return to a lush garden of rhizomes in a matter of months!

2. Understanding Ginger

• Ginger is grown from rhizomes (underground stems), not seeds
• It takes about 8–10 months to mature
• Thrives in warm, humid climates—perfect for Tonga

3. Choosing the Right Site

✅ Soil

• Loose, well-drained soil (sandy loam is best)
• Rich in organic matter
• Avoid waterlogged areas (ginger rots easily)

✅ Location

• Partial shade is ideal (can grow under coconut trees or agroforestry systems)
• Protected from strong winds

4. Land Preparation

Simple steps:

1. Clear weeds and debris
2. Loosen soil to about 20–30 cm deep
3. Make raised beds (about 20–30 cm high) to improve drainage
4. Mix in compost, manure, or rotted leaves

👉 Tip: In Tonga, using organic materials like coconut husk and compost improves soil fertility.

5. Planting Ginger

Selecting Planting Material

• Choose healthy, disease-free rhizomes
• Each piece should have 2–3 “eyes” (buds)

Planting Steps

1. Cut rhizomes into pieces (if large)
2. Dry in shade for 1–2 days before planting
3. Plant 5–10 cm deep
4. Space:
   • 20–30 cm between plants
   • 30–40 cm between rows

6. Mulching (Very Important!)

Cover soil with:

• Dry grass
• Banana leaves
• Coconut leaves

✅ Benefits:

• Keeps soil moist
• Reduces weeds
• Improves soil fertility

7. Watering

• Keep soil moist but not waterlogged
• Water regularly during dry periods
• Reduce watering as harvest approaches

8. Weeding and Maintenance

• Weed regularly (especially early growth stage)
• Avoid damaging roots
• Add more mulch as plants grow

9. Fertilising (Low-cost options)

Use locally available materials:

• Compost
• Animal manure (chicken, pig)
• Green leaves (mulched into soil)

👉 Apply every 4–6 weeks for better yield

10. Pest and Disease Management

Common Problems in Tonga:

• Root rot (from too much water)
• Nematodes (soil pests)

Prevention:

• Use clean planting material
• Practice crop rotation (don’t plant ginger in same spot every year)
• Ensure good drainage

11. Harvesting

⏳ Ginger is ready in:

• 8–10 months (mature ginger)
• 5–6 months (young ginger, for fresh markets)

Signs it’s ready:

• Leaves turn yellow and start drying

Harvest Steps:

1. Loosen soil carefully
2. Lift rhizomes without damaging them
3. Shake off soil

12. Post-Harvest Handling

• Wash gently
• Dry in shade
• Store in cool, dry place

👉 For selling: clean, uniform ginger gets better prices

13. Simple Tips for Success

• Start small and expand gradually
• Use organic matter—healthy soil = healthy crops
• Avoid planting in flood-prone areas
• Work with other farmers to share knowledge and planting material

14. Opportunities for Tongan Farmers

• Local markets (fresh produce)
• Value-added products (powder, dried ginger)
• Export potential (if quality standards are met)

The post Beginners guide to cultivating ginger. first appeared on MORDI Tonga.

Second Secretary (Development) at the Australian High Commission, Ms Elle Bradshaw, said the partnership with MORDI Tonga Trust helps ensure essential relief
items are in place before disasters strike. “Prepositioning supplies locally means they can be deployed quickly when communities need them most. Strong local systems,
supported by close international cooperation, make a real difference during emergencies.”

MORDI Tonga Trust CEO Mr Soane Patolo said the equipment significantly boosts Tonga’s readiness. “This support enables vital supplies to be available and positioned
for immediate use when disasters occur. We remain committed to working with Government and partners to strengthen resilience in communities across Tonga.” The supplies will be integrated into national response mechanisms, enabling rapid distribution during times of crisis. The initiative reflects the shared commitment of the
Australian Government and MORDI Tonga Trust to strengthening community resilience, enhancing disaster preparedness, and ensuring that vulnerable populations
across Tonga are better protected in the face of future emergencies.

The post Strengthening Tonga’s Humanitarian Preparedness through Prepositioned Emergency Supplies first appeared on MORDI Tonga.

A key milestone in leveraging this funding was the first annual meeting with Local Government Officials, including District and Town Officers. The purpose of this meeting was to begin discussions around development work for the year, ensuring that all planned activities are closely tied to each district’s newly updated Community Development Plans. By grounding development planning in these updated plans, MORDI Tonga ensures that interventions reflect the real needs, priorities, and aspirations of local communities.

At the heart of this approach is a people-centric philosophy. Development challenges—such as food insecurity, infrastructure gaps, and limited livelihood opportunities—cannot be addressed through top-down solutions alone. Engaging communities directly allows development programs to identify issues at their core, understand local context, and design solutions that are practical, culturally appropriate, and sustainable. Local Government Officials play a vital role in this process, facilitating community engagement, supporting local leadership, and mobilizing residents to actively participate in shaping their own development.

Through the combination of new funding, strategic planning with local authorities, and people-centered approaches, MORDI Tonga is well-positioned to deliver meaningful impact in rural communities. Targeted interventions will not only improve access to essential services and livelihoods but will also empower communities to take ownership of their development journey, creating sustainable change for the long term.

This year marks a renewed commitment to development that starts with people—listening, engaging, and working alongside communities to build stronger, resilient, and thriving rural Tonga.

The post Empowering Rural Communities in Tonga in 2026 first appeared on MORDI Tonga.

Research consistently shows that the physical classroom environment—including furniture—plays an important role in students’ ability to engage, focus, and learn. In a study conducted among elementary students in Ahvaz, Iran, researchers found that appropriate educational furniture had a statistically significant positive impact on both learning and academic achievement (Gilavand, 2016). This suggests that when desks and chairs are suited to students’ needs, children are better positioned to succeed in their lessons.

More broadly, classroom furniture that fits students’ bodies and supports good posture also contributes to physical comfort and cognitive engagement. Improperly sized or poorly designed seating can lead to discomfort, postural strain, and distraction, which reduces the amount of time students can concentrate on learning tasks

(studentscholarships.org, 2025). Conversely, ergonomic seating and desks encourage neutral posture and comfort, helping students remain attentive and engaged throughout the school day.

Another body of research highlights how classroom design including seating arrangements—can influence a child’s experience of school and even their academic performance. For example, evidence from a large international study has shown that elements of the physical environment can explain a significant portion of variation in learning outcomes among primary school students in China, reinforcing that physical classroom features—including furniture—matter for cognitive development and academic achievement (Yang et al., 2023).

The collaboration between Rotary New Zealand and MORDI Tonga directly responds to these insights. By identifying schools where classrooms lack basic furniture, the project recognizes that learning begins with the right environment. Simple resources like desks and chairs can:

• Support healthy posture and comfort for young learners
• Reduce distractions caused by physical discomfort
• Improve students’ ability to focus and participate
• Enhance the overall learning experience

Importantly, the donation of desks and chairs is not just about providing items—it is about creating equitable learning spaces where all children have the opportunity to succeed.

As surveys continue and furniture distributions are planned, this partnership stands as a strong example of how targeted support—grounded in evidence and community collaboration—can make tangible improvements to education. When students are seated comfortably and supported by quality classroom environments, research shows that they are better able to concentrate, engage, and achieve academically.

References

Gilavand, A. (2016). The impact of educational furniture of schools on learning and academic achievement of students at elementary level. International Journal of Medical Research & Health Sciences, 5(7), 343‑348.

The importance of ergonomic classroom furniture for student health. (2025). StudentsScholarships.org.

Yang, Y. et al. (2023). Investigating user feedback for learning space design in primary schools of Shandong Province, China. Buildings, 14(8), 2467.

The post Making Classroom Spaces Work for Every Learner: The Importance of Desks and Chairs in Primary Schools first appeared on MORDI Tonga.

The Mapal system utilizes soilless troughs and integrated drainage channels to regulate water and nutrient delivery during early plant development. This approach allows for precise control of germination conditions, resulting in higher survival rates and uniform seedling growth. The system also captures and recycles excess water and nutrients, reducing resource loss and improving operational efficiency. These features are particularly relevant in Tonga’s context, where soil variability, climate exposure, and limited access to agricultural inputs constrain consistent crop production.

The nursery functions as a central propagation facility, enabling MORDI Tonga to produce high-quality seedlings for distribution to rural households. This addresses a critical constraint within community farming systems: access to reliable planting material. Poor germination and uneven seedling development are common barriers that reduce productivity and discourage sustained engagement in agriculture. By providing healthy, well-established seedlings, the nursery reduces early-stage crop failure and improves overall production outcomes at the household level.

This intervention contributes directly to strengthening rural livelihoods. Reliable seedling supply improves planting success, increases food availability, and enhances household capacity to generate income from surplus production. It also enables more efficient use of land and labour, particularly for vulnerable and land-constrained households, by reducing the risks associated with crop establishment.

In addition, the nursery strengthens institutional capacity within MORDI Tonga to support long-term agricultural development. Centralized propagation allows for planned, timely distribution aligned with seasonal planting cycles and community needs. It also provides a mechanism for rapid response following climate-related shocks, supporting recovery through the timely provision of planting materials.

From a rural development perspective, the nursery represents a foundational investment in agricultural resilience. It strengthens local seed systems, reduces dependence on external supply chains, and improves the sustainability of community-level food production. By integrating efficient water and nutrient management technologies, the system also promotes resource conservation and climate-adaptive farming practices.

Overall, the establishment of the Mapal-based nursery enhances MORDI Tonga’s capacity to deliver consistent, high-quality agricultural support to rural communities. It provides a scalable model for improving seed propagation, strengthening food security, and supporting sustainable livelihood development across Tonga’s rural sector.

The post Strengthening Rural Seed Systems through Controlled Nursery Technology first appeared on MORDI Tonga.

CEO Kilisitina represented the Minister of Finance – Hon. Lataifaingata’a Tangimana – on behalf of the Kingdom of Tonga, while the IFAD Asia Pacific Region (APR) Regional Director – Ms. Reehana Raza in singing the agreement. This event reflects a continued commitment to supporting the people of the Kingdom of Tonga in the face of growing climate and economic challenges. Building on the successes of previous phases, TRIP III marks the continuation of a long-standing partnership focused on sustainable, community-led development.

Building on a Proven Foundation

Over the past decade, the Tonga Rural Innovation Project has played a central role in transforming rural communities. From improving access to essential infrastructure to strengthening agricultural productivity and supporting livelihoods, TRIP has demonstrated the power of placing communities at the centre of their own development.

TRIP III will build on this foundation, expanding support to communities across Tonga’s island groups. The project will continue to strengthen climate-resilient agriculture, improve community infrastructure, and enhance economic opportunities for rural households.

Implementation of the project will once again be led by MORDI Tonga Trust, whose deep connection to rural communities and proven community-driven development model has been instrumental in delivering lasting impact under previous phases.

Responding to a Changing Climate

For Tonga, climate change is not a distant threat. It is a daily reality. Rising sea levels, prolonged droughts, and increasingly severe cyclones continue to affect food production, water access, and livelihoods.

TRIP III directly responds to these challenges by strengthening climate resilience at both the household and community level. This includes supporting farmers to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices, improving water systems, and investing in resilient community infrastructure.

These investments will help ensure that communities are better prepared not only to withstand climate shocks but also to recover more quickly when disasters occur.

Investing in People and Livelihoods

At its heart, TRIP III is an investment in people. Rural communities remain the backbone of Tonga’s food systems, cultural identity, and local economy. By strengthening livelihoods, the project supports long-term economic stability and self-reliance.

The project will create opportunities for farmers to improve productivity, diversify income sources, and access markets. It will also support inclusive participation, ensuring that women, youth, and vulnerable households are actively involved in shaping and benefiting from development initiatives.

The emphasis on community ownership ensures that investments reflect real needs and priorities identified by the communities themselves.

Strengthening National Capacity and Partnerships

The signing of TRIP III represents more than a financial agreement. It reflects trust in Tonga’s institutions, communities, and development partners. It reinforces the strong partnership between IFAD, the Government of Tonga, and MORDI Tonga Trust, and highlights the importance of long-term collaboration in achieving sustainable development outcomes.

Capacity building will remain a central component of the project, strengthening local leadership, technical skills, and institutional systems. This ensures that the benefits of the project extend far beyond its duration.

A Vision for the Future

As Tonga looks toward the future, TRIP III offers a clear vision of resilient communities, strengthened livelihoods, and sustainable rural development.

The project represents continuity and progress. It builds on the lessons and successes of the past while responding to the urgent challenges of today. It reinforces the principle that development is most effective when communities themselves are at the centre of planning and implementation.

For MORDI Tonga Trust, TRIP III represents an opportunity to continue walking alongside communities, supporting their aspirations, strengthening resilience, and helping shape a more secure and sustainable future for Tonga.

With this agreement now in place, a new chapter begins. One grounded in partnership, resilience, and the enduring strength of Tonga’s rural communities.

The post A New Chapter for Rural Development: TRIP III Agreement Signed to Strengthen Tonga’s Climate Resilience and Livelihoods first appeared on MORDI Tonga.

The Manaaki short-term training programme supports mid- and senior-level professionals from Pacific Island countries to strengthen technical and managerial skills that contribute to national and community development. The infrastructure project management training focuses on planning, budgeting, procurement, risk management, and monitoring of infrastructure projects, with a strong emphasis on climate resilience and development contexts.

For MORDI Tonga, this training is highly relevant. The organisation implements a range of rural development initiatives that depend on resilient infrastructure, including water systems, agricultural facilities, community buildings, and climate-smart livelihood interventions. Strengthening internal capacity in infrastructure project management enhances MORDI’s ability to design, oversee, and deliver infrastructure investments that are sustainable, accountable, and responsive to community needs.

Mr Pomana’s upskilling will contribute to improved financial governance, project oversight, and risk management across MORDI’s programmes. It will also strengthen the organisation’s capacity to work with government agencies, development partners, and communities to ensure infrastructure projects are aligned with national standards, donor requirements, and local priorities.

In the context of increasing climate risks, resilient infrastructure is essential for safeguarding livelihoods, food security, and essential services in rural communities. By investing in professional development, MORDI Tonga is reinforcing its role as a trusted implementing partner and community-focused organisation.

Mr Pomana’s participation in the Manaaki training represents a strategic step toward strengthening institutional capacity and advancing sustainable, climate-resilient development for Tonga’s rural communities

The post Building Capacity for Resilient Infrastructure: Manaaki Infrastructure Project Management Training first appeared on MORDI Tonga.

Over recent years, a growing network of meteorological tools has been installed across the country, including automatic weather stations, weather radar systems, and digital alert platforms. Among these, stations linked with organizations such as MORDI Tonga Trust contribute valuable real-time data to national forecasting systems. These tools measure rainfall, wind speed, temperature, and humidity, helping the Tonga Meteorological Service to track cyclones, heavy rainfall events, drought conditions, and extreme winds.

This monitoring infrastructure forms the backbone of Tonga’s early warning systems. By detecting hazards before they escalate, authorities can issue warnings that give communities crucial time to prepare. Farmers can secure crops and livestock, fishers can avoid dangerous conditions at sea, and households can take protective measures to safeguard lives and assets.

However, technology alone does not build resilience. What makes Tonga’s early warning system increasingly effective is the collaboration across sectors and institutions. Government agencies such as the Tonga Meteorological Service and the National Emergency Management Office work alongside telecommunications providers, regional organizations, and development partners to ensure warnings are generated and disseminated rapidly. Digital platforms such as mobile alert systems and cell broadcast technology ensure that warnings reach even remote communities, including people without internet access.

Civil society organizations, including MORDI Tonga Trust, play a critical bridging role between scientific information and community action. Through community development planning, farmer groups, and district coordination, MORDI supports communities to understand and act on weather and climate information. This translation of technical data into practical decisions is essential for people-centered resilience.

Cross-sector collaboration is particularly important in rural contexts, where climate risks intersect with food security, health, water, and livelihoods. Agricultural extension services use weather data to advise farmers on planting and harvesting. Water and sanitation actors use rainfall and flood forecasts to protect infrastructure and drinking water sources. Health services use hazard information to plan for disease outbreaks and emergency response. Telecommunications providers ensure that alerts are delivered quickly and inclusively, including to people with disabilities.

This integrated approach reflects global best practice under the United Nations “Early Warnings for All” framework, which emphasizes monitoring, risk knowledge, dissemination, and response. In Tonga, this framework is being operationalized through partnerships that connect national institutions, local government, communities, and development organizations.

For rural communities, the benefits are tangible. Early warning systems reduce losses from cyclones and floods, protect livelihoods, and strengthen adaptive capacity in the face of climate change. They also empower communities with knowledge, enabling them to make informed decisions about farming, fisheries, and household preparedness.

As climate risks intensify, investments in meteorological tools and early warning systems are not optional. They are foundational to sustainable rural development and resilience. Continued collaboration across government, civil society, private sector, and communities will be essential to ensure that every household in Tonga can anticipate hazards, respond effectively, and recover stronger.

The post Strengthening Rural Resilience Through Meteorological Tools and Early Warning Systems first appeared on MORDI Tonga.

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 threatening food security. At the same time, access to quality seeds and planting materials remains limited and costly, particularly for farmers living on outer islands.

In response, MORDI Tonga Trust has launched a bold initiative to strengthen local seed systems through the establishment of a seed bank and an open-pollinated nursery. The programme aims to conserve local seed varieties, multiply climate-resilient crops, and return quality planting materials to farming communities.

Building a Climate-Resilient Seed Bank

The seed bank is designed to collect, preserve and multiply seeds that are locally adapted to Tonga’s climate and soils. These include traditional and farmer-preferred varieties that have demonstrated resilience to drought, pests and extreme weather conditions. By conserving these seeds, MORDI Tonga is safeguarding genetic diversity that might otherwise be lost as farmers increasingly rely on imported commercial seeds.

For smallholder farmers, this represents a critical shift. Locally adapted seeds are often better suited to withstand climate stress, reducing crop failure and stabilising yields. The seed bank also ensures that communities have a reliable supply of planting materials, even when supply chains are disrupted by disasters or high import costs.

The Role of the Open-Pollinated Nursery

Alongside the seed bank, MORDI Tonga has established an open-pollinated nursery to propagate and distribute seeds and seedlings to farmers. Open-pollinated crops allow farmers to save seeds from their harvest and replant them in subsequent seasons. This reduces dependency on purchased hybrid seeds and lowers production costs for households with limited income.

The nursery acts as a hub for seed multiplication and learning. Farmers are trained in seed selection, storage and propagation techniques, strengthening their capacity to manage their own seed systems. By distributing planting materials back to communities, MORDI Tonga is helping farmers rebuild and diversify their crops with varieties that are resilient and locally suited.

Strengthening Rural Livelihoods and Food Security

For many farmers in Tonga, access to quality agricultural inputs is constrained by geography and cost. Imported seeds can be expensive and are often not adapted to local conditions. The seed bank and nursery address this gap directly, providing farmers with reliable, affordable and climate-resilient planting materials.

This approach strengthens household food security by enabling farmers to produce diverse crops throughout the year. It also supports income generation, as surplus produce can be sold in local markets or supplied to institutions such as schools and hospitals. Over time, stronger local seed systems contribute to greater agricultural self-reliance and national food sovereignty.

Community Ownership and Knowledge Sharing

MORDI Tonga’s initiative goes beyond seed conservation. It is rooted in community participation and knowledge exchange. Farmers are engaged in selecting varieties, managing seed stocks and sharing traditional knowledge about crop resilience. This participatory approach builds local ownership and ensures that the seed bank responds to the needs and priorities of farmers.

By revitalising traditional seed-sharing practices, the programme also strengthens social networks and collective resilience. Communities become not only beneficiaries, but custodians of their agricultural heritage.

Investing in Resilience for an Uncertain Climate

As climate pressures intensify across the Pacific, strengthening local seed systems is becoming a strategic priority for sustainable agriculture. MORDI Tonga’s seed bank and open-pollinated nursery represent a practical and forward-looking investment in climate adaptation. They provide farmers with the tools to cope with environmental change, reduce dependency on external inputs and sustain livelihoods in rural areas.

In preserving seeds, MORDI Tonga is also preserving futures. For Tonga’s smallholder farmers, resilient seeds are more than an agricultural input. They are a foundation for food security, dignity and resilience in a changing world.

The post Saving Seeds, Securing Futures: Strengthening Climate Resilience for Smallholder Farmers first appeared on MORDI Tonga.

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:

“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.”

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.

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.

The post Farmer Groups as Catalysts for Rural Economic Growth in Tonga first appeared on MORDI Tonga.