By SAMANTHA ROGER – UPNG Journalism student
LOCAL farmers throughout the country are undergoing training to acquire skills that are needed to grow quality rice.
They are undergoing this training under the Smart Farmer Training program initiated by the Trukai Industries.
The training initiative aims at training and developing local farmers to grow quality rice under irrigation conditions by 2027.
Just recently, Trukai Industries commenced its Smart Farmer Training Program’s fifth batch with more than 150 trainees from within PNG and 2 from Solomon Island at the Pacific Adventist University (PAU).
Thomas Tetu, PAU Site Manager says the program is one of Trukai’s agricultural extension programs to support local rice farmers to enhance their skills and knowledge in growing rice using irrigation method.
“This program is aimed at training our local farmers to transit from the old way of relevant farming into irrigation,” Tetu said.
Wendy Yembinaro, trainee from East Sepik said: “In this training I learnt a lot and it is an interest to me which I look forward for more”.
With the vison to enhance and promote sustainable livelihood through this program, trainees gained necessary skills in rice farming.
Kelly Gaga, also a trainee from Central Province said: “We want to plant rice but we don’t know how to plant it, monitor it and harvest it”.
“Thanks to trukai of initiating this program because those knowledge and skills that I leant in this program will benefit me and my community.”
The smart farmer training program is a 20 weeks program that consist of two weeks on campus training and 18 weeks demonstration of what they learn at the farmers locality.
Trainees are looking forward to gain more knowledge and experience to be fully capable of growing quality rice that is beneficial.
