Australia supports 37 agriculture projects: Official

AUSTRALIA currently supports 37 agriculture research projects in the country and the region, an official says.
Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) country office manager Doreen Iga told people at the Morobe Show that 33 projects were specific to Papua New Guinea, while four were regional.
The Australian High Commission in a statement said the annual show had been another success story for the PNG-Australia partnership.
Displayed were Australia’s contributions to the agriculture sector in the country.
Flagship programmes that featured at the show included the ACIAR and the Australian Government’s Transformative Agriculture Development Enterprise Programme (TADEP).
Iga said through TADEP, the partnership was working to improve the livelihoods of rural men and women through projects in cocoa, sweet potatoes, family farms teams and galip nut commercialisation.
“The Morobe Show is an opportunity for Australian programmes and agencies to meet with and engage with both public and private sector stakeholders.
“For ACIAR, it is also an opportunity to discuss research opportunities that can lead to real development for Papua New Guineans.
“Already our research into cocoa farming and value-chains is improving quality and yields, while directly linking farmers to international markets more effectively,” Iga said.
“Similarly, our research on women’s role in agriculture, looks to boost economic opportunities for rural women farmers.”