Partnership notes success in Morobe Show

The 58th Annual Morobe Show has been another success for the PNG-Australia Partnership, with its ‘Australian Pavilion’ highlighting Australia’s contributions to the agriculture sector in PNG.

Flagship programs that featured at the show included the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) and the Australian government’s Transformative Agriculture Development Enterprise Program (TADEP).

Speaking during the two-day event, ACIAR Country Office Manager Doreen Iga said Australia currently supports about 37 agriculture research projects. Thirty-three projects are specific to Papua New Guinea, while 4 are regional.

Iga said through TADEP, the partnership is working to improve the livelihoods of rural men and women through projects in cocoa, sweet potatoes, Family Farms teams and galip nut commercialisation.

“The Morobe Show is an opportunity for Australian programs and agencies to meet with and engage with both public and private sector stakeholders. For ACIAR, it is also an opportunity to discuss research opportunities that can lead to real development for Papua New Guineans.

“Already our research into cocoa farming and value-chains is improving quality and yields, while directly linking farmers to international markets more effectively. Similarly, our research on women’s role in agriculture, looks to boost economic opportunities for rural women farmers,” Iga said.

Other PNG-Australia Partnership programs featured at the show were the Market Development Facility, Australia Awards and the innovative new partnership with the PNG government and private sector called 'Grow PNG'.

This year’s Morobe Show theme was ‘Be Productive, Grow Something’ and brought together stakeholders to showcase agriculture, horticulture, livestock, commercial, industry, education and cultural activities.

(ACIAR Country Office Manager Doreen Iga attending to visitors at the stall)

Author: 
Press release