Establishing Climate Resilient, Regenerative Agricultural (CRRA) systems in Tonga, Vanuatu and Samoa

Tonga, Vanuatu, and Samoa are among the Pacific nations most vulnerable to climate change. Their geographic isolation and exposure to extreme hydro-meteorological hazards leave them susceptible to climate shocks. Agriculture remains the backbone of local economies; however, rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged heat, and increasingly intense cyclones and strong winds are disrupting agricultural systems, reducing productivity across key crop value chains and threatening the stability of food supplies and rural incomes.

This programme aims to strengthen the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers and the ecosystems they depend on, ensuring a secure and resilient supply of food crops across the three countries. It promotes Climate Resilient Regenerative Agriculture (CRRA), a set of practices designed to restore soil and plant health while reducing the impacts of climate variability on agricultural yields.

The programme is structured around two main pillars. First, it strengthens the enabling environment for the transition to CRRA by supporting policy development, institutional capacity, partnerships, and market systems that incentivise climate-resilient farming practices. Second, it supports farmers in adopting CRRA systems through training, demonstration farms, and a Farmer Support Programme that provides tools, equipment, and technologies to reduce the upfront cost of transition.

Through knowledge sharing, digital tools, and peer-to-peer learning, the programme aims to accelerate the adoption of resilient agricultural systems, helping farming communities adapt to climate change while protecting food security and livelihoods across the Pacific.