Aust women share skills in PNG

A TEAM of female Australian farmers, graziers, grain growers and rural community consultants have passed on some of the knowledge and skills to their counterparts in Papua New Guinea.

The team recently visited the Sepik region of Papua New Guinea at the invitation of the Foundation Of Women In Agricultural Development (FOWIAD).

The aim of the visit was to identify ways in which the Australian team made up of North Queensland grazier, Joy Deguara, Victorian sheep farmer, Cathy McGowan and Victorian mixed cropping farmer, Val Lang can help the PNG women to undertake a review of their co-operative organisation and also develop the capacity and capability of their staff.

FOWIAD Director, Monica Otto Jeddah said she was extremely pleased that the Australian team had chosen to visit their organisation, and see first hand, some of the work that their 10 village groups were undertaking.

The groups are involved in “down stream processing”, particularly of coconut and produce products including coconut soap, body oil, cooking oil and coconut ice blocks in relatively rare instances where electricity is available.

The village groups undertake training provided by FOWIAD prior to becoming members of the group which makes members eligible to receive benefits including being able to purchase some of their supplies through the organisation at cheaper rates.

Team Leader for the FOWIAD project, Joy Deguara said the group was amazed and honoured that the members of FOWIAD had made an enormous effort to bring their produce into Hayfield to show their work.

“Some people had travelled on foot and by people mover for up to two days to attend the meeting that FOWIAD had organised to welcome us and show us how they work,” Mrs Deguara said.

*Full story in this week’s North Queensland Register, out Thursday.