“The kumara does not tell of how sweet it is” says an old Maori proverb.
For Funaki Vehekite, 53, the sweet potato is all the sweeter because it allows him to support his family and keep his five children in school.
At his farm in Tongatapu, Tonga’s largest island, he also produces food crops such as kape, taro, yam, cassava and squash.
Funaki is the secretary of a farming collective called the St Anthony of Padua group, which is part of Caritas Tonga’s sustainable livelihoods programme.
With funding from Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, the programme aims to boost the income of over 400 families in Tongatapu and Vava’u by providing small loans which farmers can use to set up micro-enterprises.
Community members are trained in business management, produce development and marketing so that the income they gain will allow them to become financially independent.
“Caritas Tonga’s Sustainable Livelihoods programme is our way of helping poverty stricken families in Tonga,” says Sr Senolita Vakata, director of Caritas Tonga.
“We support poor farmers who cannot afford any collateral for their loans and otherwise would have no other way of acquiring financial support either from a bank or other private institution.” Continue reading.
Today, 10 December 2013, the Caritas International federation launches its One human family, food for all campaign, supported by Pope Francis, aiming to end food hunger by 2025
Source: Caritas International
Image: Hunger Campaign