Tonga is to implement a $4 million US dollar project to improve access to water and increase income generation opportunities for local communities in Tongatapu, Ha'apai and Vava'u.
The project by the Pacific Environment Community Fund is supported by Japan and co-ordinated by the Pacific Islands Forum and the Asian Development Bank.
It will involve the installation of solar powered water pumps and deep freezers.
In the first stage, 27 solar powered pumps will be installed across 23 villages in Vava'u.
The villages will be able to extract water without having to use an expensive diesel generator.
In the projects' second stage, 36 solar powered deep freezers will be installed across Tongatapu, Ha'apai and Vava'u, improving their ability to store fish, meat and other products.
