Food Storage For Upcoming Shortage

With past hurricanes on Ha'apai and Vava'u, there have been local food crop shortages a few months after the disaster. Thus, it is expected there will be a shortage here in Tongatapu of local food crop a couple months after Cyclone Gita.

Manioke plantation

Manioke grows as a tall bush. The wind tossed the leaves back and forth, disrupting the root below. The crop is the root. After the storm, this root crop will rot and die off unless quickly harvested.

Elder 'Aisake Tukuafo (Area 70) asked if LDS Charities would provide freezer containers to store the harvested manioke crop. It will then be distributed to the hungry when the shortage occurs.




The harvested manioke root was brought to Liahona Campus where the students were put to work peeling, cutting, and bagging the crop.











The prepared root crop was then put in a 40-foot freezer container on campus. Containers will be at 2 other sites on the island for easier delivery and distribution to the entire island population at the time of need. One in the east and one in Maufunga (Nuku'alofa) at our Welfare office. Liahona is central.

















There will be another big push on Tongatapu this weekend for harvesting the manioke. Storage of this crop will be a real blessing for the Tongans when the shortage develops. Manioke is a staple food in the Tongan diet.

Elder and Sister Thomson spent a couple days this week locating bags for the storage of the crop. Alisi Kaufusi, Buyer at the Service Center was very helpful in getting the best price for the bags. They are ready to be filled.