Tonga - Recent

Storyline:
A cooperative program with China is transforming food production in Tonga, making it more efficient and sustainable.

In an agricultural facility just outside Tonga's capital, Nuku'alofa, pigs are raised as part of a breeding program that uses artificial insemination and genetics to produce larger animals capable of feeding more people.

Technology is at the core of a cooperative agricultural program between China and Tonga.

Since 2009, Chinese agricultural specialists have been sharing their technical expertise to develop more efficient farming practices on local farms, which is important in a country where climate change is making it harder to grow crops, particularly due to increased flooding and more frequent, intense cyclones.

The heavy reliance on meat and processed foods is contributing to poor nutrition and health problems.

Chinese experts also teach local farmers how to grow crops in greenhouses, produce better yields, and use biogas from pig waste as both a power source and fertilizer.

Simana Kami grows his own crops and raises pigs to help feed guests at his seaside resort. He also uses biogas to power his stoves instead of extremely expensive gas.

The program has also introduced more efficient breeding stocks, enabling farmers to produce more chickens and eggs, which reduces the need for costly imports.

Manu remains hopeful that as farmers recognize the benefits of self-sufficiency, more will adopt the use of biogas, paving the way for sustainable agricultural practices in Tonga.

Shotlist:
Tonga - Recent:
1. Sign showing "China-Tonga agro-tech project demonstration complex";
2. Chinese agriculture experts checking on pig's condition;
3. Various of pigs;
4. Chinese agriculture expert using microscope;
5. Chinese agriculture expert conducting training session to locals;
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Tang Huiyong, team leader, China's technology aid project to Tonga:
"We always promote the practical technology."
7. Chinese agriculture expert, local resident in lab;
8. Chinese agriculture expert placing mushrooms in plastic bag;
9. Traffic on street;
10. Vegetables in market, national flag of Tonga;
11. Various of locals;
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Vilimai Manu, chief executive office, Tonga's Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries (starting with shot 11):
"Diabetes and heart disease are very high here in Tonga. I think four out of five deaths are from these diseases."
13. Various of vegetables, piglets;
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Vilimai Manu, chief executive office, Tonga's Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries (starting with shots 13):
"The first time I saw a piggery and vegetables combined with waste recycled in between, I thought this would be the future of farming here in Tonga."
15. Aerial shot of village;
16. Sea;
17. Various of Simana Kami, owner of Oholei Beach Resort, checking on his vegetables, pigs;
18. Gas burning on cooker;
19. SOUNDBITE (English) Simana Kami, owner, Oholei Beach Resort (starting with shot 18/ending with shot 20):
"For one house, it's about 150 a month that I've saved, and also for three houses, that's about 450 a month that I've saved for the past 10 years."
20. Sign reading "Welcome to No. 1 Restaurant and Resort Oholei Beach";
21. Various of chicken, Chinese worker collecting eggs;
22. SOUNDBITE (English) Vilimai Manu, chief executive office, Tonga's Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries:
"We are still looking at our neighboring countries and trying to learn from each other, and I know they are all looking at us saying how much success we have."
23. Vegetable field.

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