Pacific farmers gain ground with new partnerships and climate funding to boost agriculture

May 27, 2025 10:00 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now Twitter Facebook

By Nicholas Mwai.

Vanuatu was represented yesterday in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, by Mr. Antoine Ravo, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, and Biosecurity (MALFB), as regional leaders, development partners, and grassroots farmer organisations gathered for a key Pacific agriculture side event during the Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry (PWAF).

Themed “Partnering with Farmer Organisations for Greater Impact,” the event showcased the vital role of farmer organisations in building climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural systems across the Pacific.

Hosted by Lord Fakafanua, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, the event featured a panel of distinguished speakers including Sinaitakala Tu’itahi (Minister for Internal Affairs, Tonga), Dr Andrew Tukana (Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Waterways, Fiji), David Jenkison Tibon (Chief of Agriculture, Marshall Islands), Luke Simmons (Assistant Director, DFAT), Candra Samekto (IFAD Country Director for the Pacific), and DARD Director Ravo.

Jointly organised by the Pacific Farmer Organisations (PFO), Growers Federation of Tonga, MORDI Tonga Trust, and Nishi Trading, with key support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the event brought together experts and delegates from more than 10 countries.

The message was clear: local farmer organisations have moved beyond aid recipients to become active leaders in agricultural transformation.

“Farmer organisations are no longer on the sidelines—they are at the center, shaping solutions and driving impact,” said Kyle Stice, Executive Director of PFO.

In a major show of support, Australia announced an additional AUD 3 million for the second phase of the Climate Resilient Farming in Pacific Islands programme. First launched in 2024 with AUD 1 million, the programme has already supported over 16,800 farmers across seven Pacific Island nations with community-driven solutions to climate challenges.

Australian High Commissioner to Tonga, Brek Batley, pointed to the need for Pacific-led action: “Locally tailored climate solutions are essential for a prosperous, resilient and inclusive agriculture sector across the Pacific.

“We are investing in the strength of farmers to meet a critical challenge to their livelihoods and wellbeing.”

With expanded support from Australia, the European Union, and IFAD, the programme—coordinated by PFO—now includes 30 farmer organisations across 14 Pacific countries, representing a network of more than 100,000 smallholder farmers.

The event also traced the growth of farmer organisations over the past 15 years. Once mainly aid beneficiaries, these groups now play active roles in agricultural research, extension services, and climate adaptation. Their partnerships with national governments and international donors have led to practical, locally relevant innovations.

“Farmer organisations are at the heart of sustainable agricultural progress in the Pacific,” said Samekto of IFAD.

“This event is a step forward in creating platforms that encourage knowledge sharing and strengthen collaboration.”

With over 70% of Pacific Islanders relying on agriculture, the stakes are high.

The region’s exposure to climate extremes makes agricultural resilience a matter of survival, not just development. Yet Pacific farmers are proving to be both keepers of traditional knowledge and drivers of innovation.

“While it is true that Pacific farmers face the impacts of climate change, they also hold many of the solutions,” concluded Stice.