| ID: | 86730 |
|---|---|
| Country: | Tonga |
| Title: | Tonga - Tonga Rural Innovation Project, Phase II (TRIP II) - June 2023 |
| Description: |
Tauala Molou, 39 years old, worked at a hardware store before he lost his leg in an accident. He is part of a small family that relies on subsistence farming as their main source of food and income. The Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai (HTHH) submarine volcano violently erupted on 15 January 2022, spewing volcanic ash and triggering a tsunami that caused considerable damage and destruction, including to household water storage tanks. The IFAD-supported TRIP II project, implemented by MORDI Tonga Trust, immediately implemented response and recovery efforts. Initially, the project installed water tanks at communal areas such as schools, churches, community halls to provide access to drinking water to a wider set of community members as quickly as possible. After the HTHH disaster, villages involved in the TRIP II project revised and reviewed their community-driven development plans (CDP) and confirmed that water was still a priority concern for them and one for which they wanted the project’s assistance. Installation (with guttering) of 5,000 litre rainwater storage collection tanks for individual households started in 2023. Through the project, Tauala found a new use for his expertise in hardware. He became a member of the village water sub-committee and receives regular training on water management. He’s now the Community Water Ranger managing the village water supply and monitoring and repairing household tanks. Tauala’s household also received a water tank from the project. “I felt really happy that I was going to be a part of it and get a water tank so collecting water won’t be as burdensome anymore. It has helped me immensely. It really has helped me a lot.” As the impacts of climate change are increasingly felt in everyday life, sustainable access to water has become an issue. Running water is not always guaranteed. When the taps go dry, rural households like Tauala’s have the water tank as back up for hygiene, cooking and gardening. “You just have to be smarter about using the water that is available to you,” said Tauala. Tauala is also a member of the Toutu'u cluster farm. He grows taro, cassava and yam. He does most of the work himself, but sometimes gets help. His farming is mostly subsistence-based, which is why his family is reliant on the remittances sent by his sibling. TRIP II aims to increase the incomes and improve the livelihoods, food and nutrition security, and safety of smallholders and family farmers, with a primary focus on boosting farmers’ capacity to move beyond just their subsistence needs. |
| Size: | 1.76 MB; 1417 x 945 pixels; 120 x 80 mm (print at 300 DPI); 375 x 250 mm (screen at 96 DPI); |
| Show more details: | Todd Marvel Henry |
| Copyright: | © IFAD/ Todd Marvel Henry |
| Categories: | New from Asia and the Pacific |
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