3 Feb 2011

China funds plan to boost agriculture in Tonga

9:50 am on 3 February 2011

Tonga is to receive more than 860 thousand US dollars from China to boost the agriculture industry.

Tonga launched its Agriculture Demo Farm Project last week with an agreement between the prime minister and the Chinese ambassador.

A researcher from the Ministry of Agriculture, Luseane Taufa, says the two-year project is the second phase of a major plan to generate bio-gas, cultivate mushrooms and make noodles out of sweet potato.

"The main objective is to improve the livelihood of the people of Tonga, mainly to substitute food imports, for example noodles. Like the new project this year on making noodles from sweet potato would be something that can substitute imports of noodles."

Luseane Taufa says it will be the first time noodles have been produced in Tonga.