NASAA Inspection

The Annual organic inspection for the year happens this week with a Auditor from the NASAA (National Australian for Sustainable Agriculture Associations).

“From 2008-2011 at TNYC we were trained on organic certification and how to form a National body which can inspect farmers bush allotment and plantation to be certified organic. Learning also about organic standard and doing of paper works for the organic supplies chains and such. It was not until 2011 that we finally have our few first grower certified organic by NASAA” said Navuso Tuaimei’api, FOFT coordinator.

In 2011 NASAA certified 50 organic farms here in the Kingdom of Tonga. Now after six years it have grow to over 700 certified organic farmers growers.

Each year NASAA inspection came to inspect these growers and this year Sam Ponder has came to inspect TNYC grower so they may still be certified organic farmers.

“I’m impress with some of the farmers” said NASAA inspection Sam Ponder “really thinking forward of including more work to tempted youth to take to farming, thinking citizenship. They really know what they are doing and I think that‟s good for the community”.

This year inspection FOFT coordinator and NASAA inspector visited famers at Ha‟apai, Vava‟u and Tongatapu sadly they didn’t get to ,Eua due to the bad weather.

“I think the organic sector is a natural fit for the island groups and there is no need to change it” said Sam Ponder “the biggest issue for you as TNYC is to ensure that they keep those practice record going through your system as the group coordinate. ”

There were no major non compliance from the inspection report.