Nawaeb farmers develop family businesses

 FARMERS in Nawaeb, Morobe, are developing their family businesses with the help of an Australian-funded training which encourages greater decision-making roles for women.

The business acumen training urges families to work as teams, and to work with other families to achieve their business goals.

It looks at how family incomes can increase when tasks are shared, freeing up women for income-generating activities.

The course attended by 30 was designed by PNG and Australian team, funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.

They included coffee, cocoa and rice farmers, poultry producers and inland fish farmers.

The course offers advice on leadership, basic bookkeeping and time management.

It encourages men to take a more sensitive approach to the amount of work that women do around the house. Rice farmer Wama Dama said he would improve the way in which his family worked the land.

“I always plan big projects without involving my wife and children,” he said. 

“I now appreciate the value of family teams. 

“I will call a meeting with my family and community to discuss a way forward.” 

Coffee farmer Norrish George said she learnt that men were farmers as well as women.

Australian High Commission’s ACIAR country manager Emily Flowers said with teamwork, families could be happier and more productive.

“When women’s workloads are reduced, they have more time to spend on activities that provide a financial return for their families,” Flowers said.

“There is unity,  peace and one direction in the family.”