Jica volunteers present activities progressive report

THE Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) volunteers who have been engaged with other partners in the areas of agriculture, education and health in the country presented a report on Tuesday.
Eight Jica volunteers engaged in various field in the Islands region since last year presented highlights of the progress of projects.
Jica project formulation adviser Hirofumi Kudo told The National that the purpose of the volunteer programme was to help local communities learn and benefit from the services they provided.
“The programme started in 1980 and over 700 Japanese volunteers have taken part so far in the areas of agriculture, education, health, infrastructure and others,” Kudo said.
“The significance of the programme is to partner with provinces, so that volunteers can spend time to understand their weakness and bring improvement accordingly.”
According to a volunteer for agriculture and community development, Jumpei Kita who was assign to Manus Island, said, the farming activities in the province involves low price products and doing well.
“Low price products such as aibika, tapioka, taro and sweet potatoes, I introduced to them the high price products such as pak choi, cabbage, tomato and eggplant,” Kita said.
He said for poultry the biggest problem for farmers was buying stock feeds. Kita said he conducted a study to produce stock feeds out of sago wastes, fish wastes, and other wastes that are not consumable. He said the study will be tested sometimes this year and if successful, the local communities would no longer buy stock feed. He said it would save cost and help farmers make more money.
There were only 4 farmers in March last year but grew up to 56 in December.
The volunteers were assign to Manus, Alotau in Milne Bay, Kokopo, and Kimbe.