Didiman centre launched

Jiwaka Didman Centre (PDC) was launched at the Lutheran Church College in Banz, North Waghi district between Feb 28 and March 4. This was done under the Public Investment Program-funded Climate Change project led by National Agricultural Research Institute (Nari).
The project is done to strengthen the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities through collaboration with the Jiwaka Division of Agriculture, the North Waghi district administration and the Banz Lutheran Church College.
The Jiwaka PDC launching was dedicated by Rev Jones Eggu of the Banz Lutheran Church College in the presence of representatives from concerned authorities and was highlighted by the installation of new agricultural infrastructure and equipment at the college.
The college received a rotavator and a power tiller as well as the construction of an igloo with nursery beds of sterilised soils and screen house kits.
These were provided with accessories like tools, knapsack sprayers, training manuals and planting materials, for climate-smart farming.
The opportunity was also taken to do a field demonstration of best practices for the cultivation of climate-smart drought-tolerant and early-maturing varieties of sweet potato, cassava, yam and rice.
The opportunity was also taken to introduce rapid seed multiplication techniques of tuber crops such as sweetpotato tuber sprouting method. The provincial didiman centre will serve as a medium to deliver researched information and technologies throughout the province. The facility will be used to host training for farmers as well as agriculture officials from the districts.
The school principal, Susan Fumapa, acknowledged the leadership of the director Jiwaka Provincial Economic Sector, Anton Keru; and the Advisor of the Provincial Department of Primary Industry, Fabian Api in establishing the provincial didiman centre at Banz Lutheran Church College.
She emphasized that the school was looking forward to partnering with the Jiwaka Provincial Administration in such an important initiative.
“The project resonates with the programs of College and together we will work to serve our people,” Fumapa said.
She added that college staff and students will have hands-on experiences with improved agricultural practices, information and technologies to enhance the self-reliance capacity of the institution.
A tractor was also donated from the office of the Provincial Economic Sector to help the project meaningfully serve the Jiwaka farming community.