The first shipment of locally grown squash under new guidelines agreed with China has left Tonga.
China imposed tough standards after an inspection of the kingdom’s squash exporters last year uncovered problems with quality control, hygiene and pest control. The Chinese also said quarantine officers needed more training.
Matangi Tonga reported that Nishi Trading successfully passed a strict quarantine inspection on November 26 after 18 months of negotiations with Chinese authorities.
Chinese and Tongan officials agreed on the standards and processes that needed to be met for a successful squash export partnership between the two countries in May this year.
Tonga Broadcasting Commission reported that some local farmers had given up on the idea of growing and exporting squash to China because of the long negotiations. However, if this shipment was a success, they might consider growing the crop again.
The broadcaster said Chinese markets required 200 tonnes of squash every season and said exports would generate hundreds of thousands of pa’anga for Tongan growers and exporters.
The export agreement was supported by the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Programme, PHAMA, a joint Australian-New Zealand initiative.
The programme helps Pacific island nations find new markets,
The main Island nations involved are Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
“With the rise in a global economy and challenges such as climate change, an increasing world population and diminishing food security, it is imperative development opportunities a re-improved and the region is economically secure,” a PHAMA spokesman said.
Tongatapu has a distinctly cooler climate than other parts of the Pacific, making it attractive as a source of fruit and vegetables not able to be grown successfully elsewhere.
Tonga exports squash to Japan and Korea and vanilla to New Zealand and Australia where it is used in specialty food products.
The main points
- The first shipment of locally grown squash under new guidelines agreed with China has left Tonga.
- China imposed tough standards after an inspection of the kingdom’s squash exporters last year uncovered problems with quality control, hygiene and pest control.
- Tonga Broadcasting Commission reported that some local farmers had given up on the idea of growing and exporting squash to China because of the long negotiations.
- However, if this shipment was a success, they might consider growing the crop again.
For more information
Tonga’s access to new market for squash export awaits Chinese quarantine evaluation
