Short description of the best practice

during the drought season, crops and vegetables require water and soil moisture.  Drip irrigation, vegetable mulge and screen technologies provide sufficient water and soil moiture throughout the year for crops and vegetables.  its simple and effective where production improved a lot.  |

Location

All of Tonga

If the location has well defined boundaries, specify its extension in hectares:

100.0

Estimated population living in the location:

100000.0

Brief description of the natural environment within the specified location.

volcanic ash orientated from 20000-50000 years old.  soil type depend on ash age.
tropics with average temperature of 25 degree celcius.  Annual Rainfall between 1800 - 2000 mm. summer and winter seasons.  wettest month January and February
mainly flat coralline.  northern parts are high with few volcanic islands.

Prevailing socio-economic conditions of those living in the location and/or nearby

government land and private land ownership.
range from 2000 TOP $ a month to less than a 100 TOP
farmers and small scale fishermen.  some work for the government and private sectors.  remedy from overseas as one source of income earn

On the basis of which criteria and/or indicator(s) (not related to The Strategy) the proposed practice and corresponding technology has been considered as 'best'?

production improved during drought season which is unusual.

Main problems addressed by the best practice

Crops and vegetable poor growth and production during drought season.  

Outline specific land degradation problems addressed by the best practice

Water resources scarcity and long drought season.  Vegetables require water to grow and bucket irrigation system provide sufficient water for plants to grow and production improve.

Specify the objectives of the best practice

To improve crops and vegetables production during the drought season

Brief description of main activities, by objective

Mulge vegetable technology to improve growth and keep soil moisture.• Vegetative Mulch technology: reduce the soil temperature (carrots, Irish potatoes, etc.), conserve soil moisture and suppress weeds.  |
To introduce Screen Technology to assist with growth of the seedlings. The screen technology: reduces the amount of direct sunlight necessary for the initial growth transplanted seedlings of the vegetables; enhance the fruit-set of tomatoes, capsicu|
Drip irrigation - bucket water with necessary pipes are extended to crops and vegetables to keep them access to moisture soil.  Drip irrigation technology, to supplement the rainfall in ensuring un-interrupted optimum soil moisture conditions. |

Short description and technical specifications of the technology

To promote favourable growing conditions against the hot humid climate of this period, the use of the vegetative mulch, screen house and drip irrigation technologies are highly recommended for the production of the off-season vegetables.
• Vegetative Mulch technology: reduce the soil temperature (carrots, Irish potatoes, etc.), conserve soil moisture and suppress weeds.
• The screen technology: reduces the amount of direct sunlight necessary for the initial growth transplanted seedlings of the vegetables; enhance the fruit-set of tomatoes, capsicum, etc.,  by reducing the impact of the rainfall
• Drip irrigation technology, to supplement the rainfall in ensuring un-interrupted optimum soil moisture conditions.
Both technologies are recommended for the production of vegetable during the December to May period
N/A

Was the technology developed in partnership?

Yes

List the partners:

MAFF
SPC
FAO

Specify the framework within which the technology was promoted

• National initiative – government-led

Specify:

International and Regional organisations (SPC and FAO)

Was the participation of local stakeholders, including CSOs, fostered in the development of the technology?

Yes

List local stakeholders involved:

Students and Private sectors

For the stakeholders listed above, specify their role in the design, introduction, use and maintenance of the technology, if any.

Awareness and introduction of the technology to farmers and communit at large

Was the population living in the location and/or nearby involved in the development of the technology?

Yes

By means of what?

• Participatory approaches

Describe on-site impacts (the major two impacts by category)

simple and efficiency.  not high tech but user friendly and everyone could use.
improve and more revenue collected.  community access to vegetables all year including cultural function. decrease import of vegetables from overseas.
improve production all year round.

Describe the major two off-site (i.e. not occurring in the location but in the surrounding areas) impacts

same as the onsite as technology have been transfered to nearby site

Impact on biodiversity and climate change

Explain the reasons:

maintain biodiversity from threaten and also contribute as an adaptation option especially with crops affected as impact of climate change.  less ans less rainfall in the future so the introduction of such technologies will help crops withstand    

Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

No

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

Yes

Where?

Outer island Groups in TOnga

Can you identify the three main conditions that led to the success of the presented best practice/technology?

Highly motivated farmers and community at large.  replicable elsewhere with some level of adaptation
availability of funding to assist farmers.  replicable elsewhere with some level of adaptation.
Highly motivated local government.  replicable elsewhere with some level of adaptation

Replicability

In your opinion, the best practice/technology you have proposed can be replicated, although with some level of adaptation, elsewhere?

Yes

At which level?

• Local
• National
• Regional

Related to human resources

Human resources development both government staff and community at large including other stakeholders and farmers.  Such development include capacity, technological know how and expertise.|

Related to financial aspects

Improve crop and vegetable productions by using of the best practice may have an impact on the finance site.  Increase in production, increase income from the marketing of the crops and vegetables |

Related to technical aspects

Simple and user friendly technology which could make big difference as far as farmers are concern.  Low tech but effective which might have big different in the result.