Trukai signs local rice famer training agreement with PAU
Trukai Industries has joined a partnership with the Pacific Adventist University (PAU) to continue the company’s rice cultivation training under its Smart Farmer Program.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed at the Trukai office in Lae on Monday 22nd May 2023.
The agreement with PAU comes after the company successfully certified more than 105 local rice farmers in irrigated rice farming, which was facilitated under the partnership with the PNG University of Technology’s Agriculture Department earlier this year.
The five-year agreement with PAU is a partnership aimed at utilizing academic and professional facilities to enhance the knowledge of local rice farmers in PNG and provide farmers with an accredited certificate from a recognized tertiary institution in Papua New Guinea.
The partnership with the university will allow local rice farmers to have access to classrooms, research facilities, farming areas, student training, and extension activities.
The Certificate in Irrigated rice farming training, under Trukai’s Smart Farmer program, will enable rice growers in the country to not only acquire a certificate from a recognized tertiary institution but to also build capacity in local rice farming to transition from subsistence to commercial rice farming in the long term.
Trukai Industries’ Chief Executive Officer, Alan Preston, welcomed the partnership between Trukai and PAU adding that the program is a demonstration of the company’s commitment to the people of PNG.
“Trukai has always stayed true to its commitment to building capacity in our people and we are proud to have one of the most extensive ESG programs, which covers areas in sports, health, education, sustainability, and agriculture.”
“We continue to reaffirm our commitment to the people by investing millions of kina throughout the years to help raise the wellbeing of our people,” said Preston.
PAU’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Teatulohi Matainaho, said that he was pleased to join a partnership with Trukai due to the program’s community-orientated aspect.
“The most important function for any educational institution is the transferring of knowledge to the people.”
“I welcome this partnership with Trukai as the rice cultivation training delivers knowledge to the people from our communities,” said Professor Matainaho.
Trukai Industries’ Rice Development Manager, Aina Davies, echoed Prof. Matainaho’s sentiments adding that the training is intended for the local people.
“The Smart Farmer program is designed for PNG rice farmers who are interested to grow rice at a commercial level, but do not have the knowledge and skills to transition from their subsistent farming systems.”
“The program in partnership with the universities ensures that our local rice farmers receive quality and updated knowledge from our prominent education institutions,” said Davis.