Wednesday, September 30, 2009

New Zealand Governor-General assures assistance to Papua New Guinea vegetable growers

New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand and Lady Satyanand with dancers at Goroka airport
New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand and Lady Satyanand with Asaro mudmen at Goroka airport
Students of Kabiufa Adventist High School line up to welcome New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand
New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand speaking at Kabiufa Adventist High School
New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand with a highlands woven cap at Kabiufa Adventist High School
When in Goroka, do as the Gorokas do...New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand and Lady Satyanand at Kabiufa Adventist High School
New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand inspecting a cabbage patch at Kabiufa Adventist High School
New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand and Lady Satyanand being shown around Goroka market by FPDA general manager Greg Liripu
New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand being taken around Goroka market by FPDA manager production & supply Robert Lutulule
New Zealand Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand today assured vegetable growers of Papua New Guinea that his country would assist in whatever way it could to assist the development of PNG’s fresh vegetable industry.
Sir Anand made the commitment during a visit to the once-famous vegetable-growing hub at Kabiufa Adventist High School, just outside of Goroka, which is being revived with the assistance and expertise of the Fresh Produce Development Agency.
The New Zealand vice-regal also made brief visit to the well-known Goroka market to see growers and their produce.
He was accompanied by his wife Lady Satyanand, New Zealand High Commissioner Niels Holm and his wife Suzette Holm, as well as government officials from both New Zealand and PNG.
Kabiufa Farm Fresh Vegetables – during its heyday until closure in 1995 – was renowned for its trademark vegetables.
Sir Anand said he was very impressed to see the fresh vegetables and beautiful flowers of Goroka, which is known internationally for its perennial springtime climate.
“I can see what a wonderful, fertile place this is,” he told an appreciative, cheering audience of flag-waving students at Kabiufa High School.
“I have been told about the wonderful potential for food (in PNG).
“I think that the initiative to grow food is something that is so vital for the future of Papua New Guinea.
“It is something that New Zealand can assist with.
“It seems a vital project for the future, which will benefit everyone.”
Kabiufa principal Terry Haru said it was an honour to have Sir Anand visit as New Zealand was once an agriculture development partner with the school.
“Some 20 years ago, the New Zealand government became a partner with us in agriculture, where your government funded some agriculture projects here at the school,” he said.
“With the revival of the farm, we are planning to look at developing an agri-business curriculum, where we could train and equip young people with knowledge and skills that they would be able to use to earn their living.
“Our project will aim at addressing issues like school dropouts, employment creation, participation of women in agriculture and agriculture extension service delivery.”
Mr Haru acknowledged the fact that the New Zealand government regularly supported projects initiated by FPDA and Kabiufa Adventist High School.
“Through the assistance and partnership of FPDA and your government and through our partnership with FPDA, we will extend our agriculture training programmes to women, youth and the local community farmers, who could benefit in acquiring knowledge and skills to produce vegetables and other farm products and to sell or know how to run their own businesses in other areas as well.”

1 comment:

  1. Thank you for sharing this online - I'm in South NZ reading this news and so happy that NZ is supporting such a worthy project! God bless!

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