Thomsons In Tonga: Ploughing for the Poor

An ongoing project we have been doing has been to plough for those who cannot afford to do it themselves. It must be a community group and they must not be able to pay themselves as recommended by the bishop and town officer.

Hired tractor at Veitongo .. slashing

When the community is further from Liahona Farm (where the LDS tractor is), we need to hire a tractor driver. The people are asked to contribute. If they cannot pay anything, we can provide the first time, after which they are instructed to save a portion of the money they earn on the crop for the next planting. We will then decrease the amount we pay ... maybe the group will be helped 3 times, then they should be able to do their own ploughing through managing the money from selling crop. Sometimes some of the group can afford to pay a certain amount, and that helps with their contribution.

At communities closer to Liahona, the Farm tractor can be used. We ask the community to pay for the fuel. LDS Chairities then helps the Farm with repairs of their tractor and for oil. This is the preferred way.

After Cyclone Gita, we helped the government with a ploughing project. The Kingdom was worried about a food shortage of local root crops a few months out from the cyclone. When we heard of the need for help, we said we would be happy to be a part of this government program. Liahona Farm tractor ploughed the qualified fields which were near Liahona as recommended by the town officers. This is one way we were able to help the farmers after Cyclone Gita. Those helped needed to have had homes damaged in the cyclone and ready to begin planting immediately. We were able to help many with this project, and the government was appreciative of our contribution.

Elder Murdock first helped repair the 'Eua tractor in 2015

The post Cyclone project was done not only on Tongatapu but also on 'Eua which also was affected by Gita.

The tractor on 'Eua is quite old and we have purchased parts for it to keep it running. This tractor was first aided by Elder Murdoch about 4 years ago. When Elder Murdoch first saw the tractor he was worried it would be able to operate, but it was restored and has been working and helping the communities on 'Eua.

Each community decides what crops to plant on the fields ploughed. When they seek assistance, we ask what crops they will be planting. Taro, manioke, and watermelon have been planted.