An inception workshop is underway at the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) headquarters, outside Lae, to put into perspective issues associated with food production.
The project “Strengthening food production capacity and the resilience to drought of vulnerable communities” is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by NARI in partnership with provincial and district administrations, and other relevant NGOs.
The workshop is expected to attract over 40 representatives from 20 districts of 11 lowland provinces to be covered under this project. Senior managers of NARI and representatives from EU office in PNG are also expected to participate in this event.
The two-day event starts today (Wednesday, 25 October) and ends tomorrow (26 October).
It is expected to provide an opportunity for participants to establish common understanding on the objectives, major activities to be undertaken and the expected outcomes of the project.
The overall objective of the workshop is to gather all potential partners to select and confirm target project sites in each of the identified districts, plan activities for year one and firm up partnership arrangements in order to start the implementation phase.
The 4-year project, launched in May, is expected to be completed in 2021. The overall objective of this Euro 3 million EU supported project is to contribute to achieving a greater resilience of smallholder farming and rural communities in PNG to abiotic stresses arising from seasonal weather patterns, climate change or natural disasters impacting on their livelihoods.
The full implementation phase is expected to commence in January next year and will cover various sites in Madang, Morobe, East Sepik, Sandaun, Manus, West New Britain, Central, Milne Bay, Western, Gulf and Northern provinces. These target sites, selected based on assessment reports of various institutions, including the PNG National Disaster Centre, have been found to be among the worst affected areas during the recent 2015 - 2016 El Niño induced drought.
NARI, as the lead implementing agency, hopes to use this workshop organised for provinces in the Momase and Islands region to formalise partnerships and to obtain the commitment of respective provinces and districts to provide their support for the successful implementation of the project.
A similar workshop is planned for the provinces in the southern region in mid-November.
(Participants of the official launching of the project on Kiriwina, Milne Bay Province, last May)