The Choice

In 2008-2011Tonga National Youth Congress pilot the organic certification program. In 2011TNYC started with 50 certified organic farmers from. National Australian for Sustainable Agriculture Associations (NASAA).

In 2012 Sesili ‘Ahau was first audit by NASAA and in the same year he was mark as a certified organic framer an since 2012 he has been an organic grower. Sesili has two acres of land and has participate in farms training 2011,2012,2016.

“In my early days I use to have a banana plantation but in the turn of 1991 I stop growing banana and turn my interest towards vanilla farming. From 1991 to today vanilla have been my main crops” said Sesili ‘Ahau “I stick to organic farming because I know it a healthy way of life and I am all about healthy leaving”

Being and organic certification bring much advantage “The great quality of being an organic grower is that our vanilla bean can be sale in a much higher prize. The lowest prize that I had sold my vanilla at is $5.00 TOP per kilo yet I made around $5000.00 in that prize” continue Mr.’Ahau “Last year was not a great year for my vanilla cause of the dry weather that we had experience last year but thank to being and organic certified grower I was able to sale my vanilla bean at $75.00 TOP per kilo. When I sold it in this great prize part of me was wishing that this prize had been there from the start.”

“Another great value of growing vanilla is that the market that we can sale our bean to. Not like some crops that you have to go and look for a market, with vanilla the market come to you and buy your bean. Even if it $5.00 TOP or $75.00 per kilo you can still sale your vanilla bean”

At the end of the day we as organic growers will always love to see that our bean, our crops, the fruit of our labor have a fair prize. “Last year, when there was a raise on only the certified organic farmer’s vanilla bean it was an eye opening for all organic vanilla growers and specially the non-organic growers.” Said Sateki ‘Ahomana “When the prize of vanilla drop in the 90’s I destroy my vanilla and started doing another crops, but now with the raise of vanilla prize once I again I going back to vanilla”.

Vanilla is a fascinated plan that help heal the land, not like other plan such as squash that can cause harm to the land with all the chemical that is require. That is the aim of the organic program, to inspire young people to look toward organic farming for it is the best choice our small island. With vanilla our land can stay healthy and with a healthy land we can produce healthy crops and with healthy crops comes healthy people.