By DALCY LULUA
AS more Papua New Guineans recognize the potential of local rice farming, they are taking proactive steps to boost both economic prosperity and food security.
The Trukai Smart Farmer Program (SFP) is at the forefront of this transformation, equipping farmers with the necessary tools and innovative techniques to improve their livelihoods through rice cultivation.
The SFP is one of Trukai’s extensive agriculture programs that aims to enhance the well-being of the people of PNG by supporting local rice farmers with skills and knowledge.
The training is a course in Irrigation Rice Farming and is facilitated through a private-public partnership with Trukai Industries Limited’s Rice Development Department, the PNG University of Technology (PNGUoT), and the Pacific Adventist University (PAU).
The program provides theory and practical assessment, building a strong knowledge base for the farmers to be fully capable of transitioning from dry land farming to Irrigation farming.
The Smart Farmer Program is a 20-week program that consists of two weeks on-campus training and 18 weeks’ demonstration of transfer of knowledge at the farmer’s own locality.
From this 18 weeks’ demonstration, Trukai Industries’ Agriculture field teams visit the farmer’s village to assess their rice plots.
This assessment determines their qualification to graduate with a certificate in Irrigated Rice Farming from either The PNG University of Technology or Pacific Adventist University.
So far in PAU alone, a total of 500 farmers were trained while 51 new farmers are now undergoing training.
