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Research takes new dimension
By
 NARI Keravat officer Kiteni Kurika (in hand gloves) talking to Malakuna women farmers about her work on the taro beetle control technology ENB farmers Initiate Workshop Research has gone into new dimensions with the aid of new technologies, but rarely these innovations reach the majority of the farmers. Deputy Town Mayor for Kokopo, Albert Buanga expressed this during a community awareness programme at Malakuna village in Kokopo last month. He said awareness programmes carried out by community based organisations or government agencies in East New Britain province have yet to reach the vast rural population - thus creating a gap between research organisations and farmers. Identifying this gap, the Malakuna Community Group decided to initiate an awareness workshop by engaging resource persons from different government and non-government organisations within ENBP to disseminate information to the local people. The idea was initiated for the people to reach out and bring information into the community instead of allowing community based organisation or government agencies to facilitate workshops at their expense. “If we continue to wait for service to find its way to our homes, we might not receive it,” said Mr Bunanga, adding that such initiative undertaken by the local community was the way to go to seek help. Service providers included representatives from the Law and Justice Sector, East New Britain Savings and Loans Society, OISCA, Division of Primary Industries (DPI), Cocoa Coconut Industry and the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI). The facilitators informed the people of their organisations’ roles and functions and the services they provide to people. The ENB Savings and Loans Society informed the people on the types of savings accounts and loan products they have for rural people to access in order to improve their livelihoods. The life insurance policy for rural people was also emphasised and the village people were encouraged to join. Mr Silas Tobebel of the Probation Office (LJ) mentioned the negative impacts of alcohol, drugs, sex and abuse in the community. It was highlighted that there is law and order in place and those failing to abide to community laws can be penalised. He also urged the community to refrain from producing home-brews and drugs. OISCA International advised on the importance of rice farming and demonstrated the milling techniques while a team from NARI’s Wet Lowlands Islands Programme at Keravat provided information and basic training on taro beetle technology, the control of Sweet Potato Hawke moth on sweat potato and provided information on fruit fly and its effect on local bananas. The ward awareness was in line with the ward development concept organised by Kipas Kane, Ward Chairman responsible for DPI/commerce. About 80 people attended the one-day workshop. |
NEWS
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