Centre for community empowerment

PUBLIC-funded and sponsored extension efforts in the country have not been effective in liaising and delivering services and agricultural technologies to the rural communities.
In some areas, such services are non-existent.
On the other hand, substantial progress has been made by research and development institutions in the agriculture sector. These institutions are mobilising and developing improved agricultural technologies and new knowledge that could improve productivity, efficiency and sustainability in response to changes in markets, institutional arrangements, policies and the environment. 
The National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) has been promoting the “resource centre” concept as an innovative approach to find alternatives and cost-effective and efficient ways of reaching and linking people to address the core challenges of information exchange, technology adaptation and transfer, and innovation by farmers.
A resource centre is an arrangement that can be established and developed to improve information exchange and the adaptation and transfer of technology to agricultural and rural communities. The rationale is a bridging of the gap between farmers, communities and researchers to help empower farmers and their communities with improved skills, techniques, materials and knowledge for decision making and development. 
A resource centre is identified through an agent or coordination group and a location within a fairly homogenous agro-ecological zone (uniform resource endowments and socio-economic parameters), generally a local level government jurisdiction or similar within a district. 
The main modus operandi suggested is to work through networking with collaborators, partners and donors, including provincial extension officials, LLGs, district agencies, NGOs, church groups, schools, private sector agencies including farmers themselves and research organisations.
Local authorities and farmers should take ownership of the facility and continue to sustain its functions with ongoing support from other stakeholders.
The arrangement for collaboration and partnership is formulated and established through a formal agreement among selected agencies to serve as the coordinating agency group with specified roles, responsibilities and accountability.
Since 2004, NARI has been involved in establishing more than 30 community-based resource centres in various parts of PNG, mostly in the Southern region at district and LLG levels. Much of these were undertaken through projects in partnership and with support from various stakeholders. Among these districts were Kairuku-Hiri and Abau (Central), Kiriwina, Goodenough and Rabaraba (Milne Bay), Popondetta (Northern), South Fly (Western), Kabwum (Morobe) and Mbuke island (Manus).
Through these centres, foundation materials of a wide range of improved agricultural technologies and practices with information packages have been disseminated.
Resource centres have become the hub for multiplication and distribution of materials. Such included seeds and planting materials of new and improved crop varieties and smallholder livestock species, associated training programmes and advisory services. Much of the material multiplication was done in demonstration plots at the centres.
 The main activities envisaged were:
*Identification and assessment of constraints and opportunities (rural appraisals);
*Planning research and development activities for the area;
*Provision of knowledge on improved technologies, techniques and practices, and information on markets and marketing, through various media;
*Provision of foundation material of improved technologies and practices;
*Demonstration of improved technologies and practices;
*Training in the various aspects on the implementation of improved technologies and methods in agriculture;
*Advising on and addressing any specific development, disaster or emergency issues (pest or disease outbreak, flooding, droughts, frosts, etc.);
*Consultancy and feasibility studies for special projects; and
*Provision of contacts and linkages as and when necessary.
Under this approach, the human resources in local areas such as DPI officers, farmers, private sector personnel, NGOs and churches could be effectively utilised for realising development. 
Private entrepreneurs could be responsible for the supply of improved materials and inputs.   
Funding and policy support could come from the district joint budget priority and planning committees, local Members of Parliament and provincial assemblies. This could be linked to the use of development funds of MPs allocated through the National Planning Department.
A classical example can be taken from a recent initiative by the Deputy Prime Minister and Abau MP, Sir Puka Temu, in approving K38,000 by his district planning committee for the establishment of a series of resource centres in the district. NARI is engaged to drive the programme.
This follows the success from the past resource centre at Merani near Kupiano in the Cloudy Bay LLG.
Aapproval was given on April 21.
Under the recently launched national drought preparedness project, NARI will work with stakeholders in establishing 50 resource centres in 40 drought vulnerable districts of PNG. These centres will be equipped with information and resources in a bid to help prepare rural farming communities for the predicted drought in two or three years.
The resource centre approach should improve capacity for participatory research and partnership development among farmers, the private sector, NGOs, extension agents, policy makers, planners, researchers and other development actors.
As development proceeds, it should be feasible to have solar-powered, satellite-linked computers in the command areas of resource centres. These can facilitate communication through email with research and development institutions and provide limited access to the internet.
Although the proposal is for agricultural resource centres at this stage, the centres could cater for needs in other areas such as health, education, community development and social services.