Rural women to attend AusAID-PNG talks in Lae

RURAL women farmers in PNG have gathered in Lae today for a roundtable-talk with key stakeholders in the agriculture sector.
The PNG Women in Agriculture Development Foundation (PNGWiADF), with support from AusAID, is hosting the meeting on possible organisational support for PNG women in the agriculture sector.
PNGWiADF president Maria Linibi said the immediate outcome expected from the forum was to establish collaboration and partnership with various stakeholders, government agencies and donor partners to fund and/or implement components of the PNGWiADF strategic plan.
While the high-level talk is scheduled for Wednesday, the rural women farmers will attend a capacity building workshop today, followed by a knowledge sharing field day tomorrow to showcase their agricultural innovations and potentials.
Ms Linibi said Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc would present a keynote address and Department of Agriculture and Livestock secretary Anton Benjamin would chair the roundtable talk.
Among those attending are Agriculture Minister John Hickey and representatives from various government agencies, international donors such as AusAID and the Australian centre for international agricultural research, and the Australian women in agriculture, rural industries council, NARI and women leaders and farmers.
Ms Linibi said the three-day event was also aimed at gaining recognition for PNGWiADF as the voice of women in agriculture, contributing to food security through the implementation of the PNGWiADF strategic plan.