Why is tonga poor

Tongans depend on agriculture and fishing for a livelihood. Many people are smallholder farmers engaged in subsistence and cash crop production. They grow coconut and root crops like yams and sweet potatoes, sometimes supplemented by bananas and plantains.

Those seeking other types of work have limited access to markets and face high costs of transportation. Blog - Latest News.

Limited Resources Resources are scarce in Tonga, with arable land being at the top of the scarce resources list. Astonishingly, of that 24 percent, about 43 percent of the land is used for agricultural purposes. High dependency on limited resources leads to a wide range of economic issues and food insecurity. In January , tourist receipts totaled 60 million Tongan dollars, the highest point in the last decade. Like many countries, Tonga is still in the process of rebuilding its economy after the financial shock.

International cooperation will also be instrumental in doing so, as Tonga continues to rely on foreign aid for emergency assistance and filling the gaps in trade deficits. With further cooperation and the development of local markets, there is hope to lift many more Tongans out of poverty.

Photo: Flickr. Log in or register to post comments. Poverty and Social Exclusion. Search form Search. Tweets by PSE Latest news Displaying 1 - 3 of 3.