The village of Tapatapao hosted their inaugural Talomua on Thursday with farmers and people from neighbouring villagers as well as Government leaders joining them for the occasion.

The show had been delayed in recent weeks after the Government announced a nationwide lockdown due to spreading COVID-19 community cases.

However, upon the show’s convening on Thursday, the farmers did not disappoint with displays of root crops, vegetables, fruits as well as tilapia and freshwater eels farmed in the nearby freshwater ponds.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the village Talomua was organised and coordinated by one of Tapatapao’s own local farmers, Fausa Sugalu Pasia.

The farmers’ representative Fulu Maselina Nauer, conveyed their request to the Government for assistance, in order to improve electricity and phone network coverage to some parts of the village.

The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, congratulated the organisers and and expressed his appreciation of the farmers and fishers' efforts in organising what he described as a successful event.

He assured them that the collaboration between the Government and the Tapatapao village will continue for the benefit of their community development. 

The Minister encouraged the village to look at establishing a tilapia aquaculture as one of their future projects under the district development funding scheme and to request the Government for assistance.

The village gifted a variety of agricultural produce for the Minister as a token of their appreciation. 

All the Talomua gifts from Tapatapao were later donated to the Home of the Elderly at Mapuifagalele, Vailele and the Carmelite sisters at Vailima.

The M.A.F. also provided 500 seedlings of coconut and fruit trees, packets of vegetable seeds as well as some farming tools and equipment to Tapatapao farmers.