Training on growing rice goes nationwide

 TRUKAI Industries and the PNG University of Technology will be delivering a five-day rice growing training programme throughout the country over the next six months.

It will cover everything from land selection to pest management, and everything in between.

The first such programme was held in Mt Hagen from April 29 to May 3.

“Trukai has contributed K15,000 to the project and 25 growers will take part initially,” Trukai rice development officer Humphrey Saese said.

“The new Unitech and Trukai training programme will be decentralised across the provinces and focus on training in village centres near farms.  

“As well as efficient farm practices, the training will cover sources of funding – especially for rice mills – and cooperative and smallholder concepts marketing systems. 

“One major problem for rural farmers is marketing their rice produce, so development of cooperative and smallholder marketing systems similar to those in place for coffee and cocoa production will be taught. 

“Trukai offers to purchase quality rice for use in its products.

“Technical support and training in how to maintain and repair the rice mills will be another focus of the training.”  

Saese said the rice farming training was part of a new programme by Trukai to establish a sustainable domestic rice industry to enhance PNG food security, generate income for smallholders, and reduce rice imports by increasing annual domestic rice production.