Trainers complete village farmer’s livelihood training

Business

A GROUP of trainers has completed a village farmer’s livelihood improvement training programme in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands. The Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (Cefi), through Care International, conducted the training of trainers.The training is to improve equal participation of family members, particularly women’s participation, in business and financial decision in managing family income and participation in training and learning opportunities.
The training comes under the fresh produce development agency (FPDA) led by the market for village farmers project.
The 25 trainers included nine women from the people’s action for rural development, FPDA, Department of Agriculture and Livestock and partners within the fresh produce sector from Mt Hagen.The training reinforces the value of women’s contribution to a family’s livelihood and supports families to work as a unit. It also gives families the necessary skills to manage expenditure, save money and plan for future business prospects. Project coordinator Sebastian Mugup encouraged the participants to pass on what they have learned to the fresh produce farmers. “The training underscores family unity,” he told the trainers. “You are all custodians of life skills that will change the family farm businesses around the country.” Jenny Steven, a strawberry farmer from Western Highlands, thanked Cefi and Care International for providing the training. “As a trainer, it is my obligation to train and educate our fellow village farmers and encourage the husbands and wives to sit down and talk about making life financially meaningfully for their families.”