Ms. Lauvao Leupena, the Gov4Res Resilience Officer, commended the training assistance provided by the Department of Agriculture and emphasized the importance of collaboration and partnership. She highlighted that the group needed not only to learn how to plant vegetables but also to understand the risks involved in having a home garden and how to overcome them in a place like Tuvalu. Water conservation is crucial in Tuvalu, given its scarcity for family use. Thus, using additional water for watering home gardens is not sustainable. By planting their vegetables at the Department of Agriculture’s nursery, the group ensured access to water and adequate growth space. Once the garden was nearing harvest, they would move it to their homes temporarily, with the Department of Agriculture pledging regular visits to provide ongoing support.

Ms. Lauvao said, “seeing the intersection of community, government, and development partners like Gov4Res in a home garden is a good step to resilient and healthy communities in Tuvalu”.

Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing Drive Tuvalu's Home Gardening Movement

At the core of the Matakaiga Lukuga group lies the concept of "Lukuga Home Garden," derived from the Tuvaluan word "luku," which means to come together and contribute to a shared purpose. Olepa, a member of the group, highlighted that despite the challenges they face in Tuvalu—limited planting space, water scarcity, lack of fertile soil, and high material costs for building home gardens—they firmly believe that by "luku" or pooling their local knowledge and skills, collaborating with other stakeholders, and investing their hearts into it, they can overcome these obstacles. This approach has the potential to enhance their access to a healthy and diverse range of vegetables, reducing their dependence on imported produce or waiting for it based on boat schedules.

By embracing the essence of "luku," the Matakaiga Lukuga group strives to create a vibrant and sustainable home gardening movement in Tuvalu, where communities come together, contribute their collective efforts, and work towards a shared purpose of resilience and self-sufficiency.

Semisi, from the Department of Agriculture expressed his delight that Matakaiga Lukuga is coming together for this initiative. He emphasized that the department is always willing to assist the community, and their roles in this regard are clear. However, he believes that a crucial role is to encourage both the group and the department to continue working together, as sometimes these initiatives can lose momentum, and the wait for harvest can diminish interest.

In this aspect, he sees Gov4Res as a bridge connecting the group and the department through regular communication and monitoring visits, ensuring that partnerships are always maintained and fostering continued collaboration.