Farmers learn to invest

 FARMERS at Erima village, outside Madang town, have been taught how to venture into small-scale business opportunities, including poultry production.

They were trained on farm management and marketing skills by RamuNiCo Management Ltd.

RamuNiCo’s agriculture section under the community affairs department, conducted the two-day training at Erima Primary School in Rai Coast district on Sept 25 and 26 for 34 villagers.

Allan Wahwah, RamuNiCo’s agriculture supervisor, said the participants showed a lot of interest.

“We are teaching them to venture into small-scale businesses, save money and prosper in life,” Wahwah said.

Government relations supervisor with RamuNiCo, Ivan Mullul,  encouraged the participants to focus on their land, mobilise their resources and venture into small-scale business at the village level.

“RamuNiCo is happy to work with the landowners and wants to see them be self-reliant and not depend on the mine,” he said. 

“This is the way forward because one day, RamuNiCo will go and people must depend on themselves.”

People’s Micro Bank staff in Madang explained how to open savings and loans accounts.

Madang branch manager Clara Lake said the bank was a product of the National Development Bank (NDB).

She said it would operate as a commercial branch of the NDB but with very competitive opportunities for villagers and ordinary people.