NUKU’LOFA (Pacnews) — The Tonga’s Squash Council says it is sad that the  island kingdom has had to resort to exporting labor but he says it’s a sign that the economy is in dire straits.
Squash Council secretary Steven Edwards said Tonga’s main export of squash to Japan is at a crossroads because the costs have tripled but the market is determined by supply and demand.
New Zealand’s regional seasonal employer scheme was formalized with Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Vanuatu last week.
But Edwards believes it is not the long term solution to the country’s exporting difficulties.
“How can we cope with this situation? And I think the only way we can do this is if we don’t increase exports, the only way we can do it is export our people to work overseas so they can remit overseas funds. And then that’s sad. That’s sad that we have to resort to that.”
He said increasing the kingdom’s agricultural exports, including added value was one of the key topics discussed during the national economic summit last week.
Meanwhile, there has been a renewed call in Tonga for land tenure reform to allow women business opportunities.
The Tonga Women’s Action Group for Change said women need to have more equitable access to land if they are to play their part in growing the economy.
Spokeswoman Ofa Guttenbeil said with land held only by males, women struggle to provide collateral for bank loans and this is stymieing the heir business opportunities.
“So you know women are finding it really difficult to try and step into the private sector and start up small businesses because (a) they don’t have the land and (b) they have to either get permission from their husband, their brothers, or their father to use their land as collateral.” .”