Papua Programme Newsletter August 2020 — Issue #4

Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade (Streit Tok)

Widows blessed with Cocoa Pod Borer STREIT This Month (CPB) tolerant seedlings The European Union co-financed STREIT PNG Programme in

collaboration with provincial DAL and Cocoa Board celebrated International Youth Day on August 12 under the theme “Youth Engagement for Global Action” with 50 young men and women. The EU Ambassador to PNG in his speech presented by STREIT reminded us that youth are the key to the future of PNG. Through the generous support from European Union STREIT PNG Programme and partners are facilitating youth’s active participation in agricultural activities to help prepare them become future entrepreneurs, farmers and leaders so that their voices, actions and initiatives or engagement can be meaningfully recognised.

EU: Youth important to PNG's future

The European Union (EU) co-funded Support to Rural Vero (left) and daughter BIlla with their CPB tolerant seedlings Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade in

Veronica Mossiop, a 56 years old from Bougumatai village of (STREIT PNG Programme) celebrated International Youth Day Dagua LLG ( District, East Province) was elated 2020 on Wednesday 12 August with a reminder that youth are a after she received some cocoa seedlings in late August. nation’s future. Veronica was one of 13 widows in the village who received over 4,000 Cocoa seedlings. “Youth are the key to the future of PNG," was the message from Jernej Vidtic, the EU Ambassador to PNG, "and through our These seedlings, which are cocoa pod borer (CPB) tolerant, support to the STREIT programme we are facilitating their active were provided to these female cocoa farmers under the participation in agricultural activities in order to help them European Union co-financed ‘Support to Rural prepare to become future entrepreneurs, farmers and leaders so Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade in Papua New Guinea’ that their voices, actions and initiatives or engagement can be (STREIT PNG Programme), in close collaboration with the meaningfully recognised”. Provincial Cocoa Board and the Department of Agriculture and Livestock office. STREIT FACTS Full name: Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment By availing these CPB tolerant seedlings, STREIT PNG and Trade in Papua New Guinea Programme is directly addressing one of the key issues Co-Financed: European Union accounting for a significant drop in cocoa yields in the Sepiks. Budget: EURO 81 300 000/USD 89 470 440 Effects of CPB have become very notable, causing a drastic drop Duration: 1/JAN/2020 31/MAY/2024 in cocoa production over the last decade as well as a drop in Implementation: United Nations joint programme income for farmers. Administrative Agency: FAO Partners: ILO, ITU, UNCDF, UNDP and Government of Papua New Guinea

future of agriculture in the country. It was also the first for the farmers to attend a formal training on Vanilla production. Thirty-three youth and sixteen women were part of 62 vanilla farmers in a two-day “Vanilla Husbandry and Processing Training” held in Saure village, Wewak Rural LLG, on July 28-29.

The second training was on Cultivation, Husbandry and Processing and conducted in Missim Village, Ward 07, Ambunti- Drekikir District, on 25-26 August where 50 selected farmers and additional 151 interested participants totalling 201 also joined. There were 23 women (ages 26 – 56), 34 female youth (ages 15 – 25), 120 men (ages 26 – 60) and 24 male youth (ages 15 – 25).

Again, good number of women and youth showed interest and express their eagerness to work with STREIT PNG Programme to STREIT PNG National Operations Officer Ms. Rubina Kavi addressing youth on Covid-19 protocols produce quality beans for an improved income and wellbeing.

This message was conveyed to over 50 youth who gathered at The trainings were conducted with the support of East Sepik provincial DAL officer, Mr. Dong Manuk. Neimu Village in the Numbo LLG, Yangoru-Saussia District, East

Sepik Province, by STREIT Acting Deputy Programme Coordinator, Dr. Rabi Rasaily in his keynote address. The theme for this year’s celebration as promoted by the United Nation’s is “Youth Engagement for Global Action”.

The occasion ended with handover of essential start-up materials such as cocoa polybags and shade cloth for the establishment of a cocoa nursery by youth. The Covid-19 protocols were observed during the gathering.

The Covid-19 protocols were observed during the gathering where STREIT PNG officers conducted an awareness on hand Covid-19 protocols were observed during the second vanilla training at sanitation, wearing of facemasks and physical distancing. Missim village, Ambunti-Drekikir District

STREIT commences Vanilla, Cultivation, East Sepik Governor and 27 LLG Presidents Husbandry and Processing Trainings committed to support Cocoa Plan

East Sepik Governor, Provincial Administrator, and all 27 LLG Presidents have committed to support the implementation plan of European Union co-funded STREIT PNG Programme.

This support was accorded at a meeting of all Local Level Government (LLG) Presidents and Provincial Executive Council (PEC) Assembly members after a presentation by Dr. Rabi Rasaily, Acting Deputy Programme Coordinator for STREIT.

Dr. Rasaily in his presentation prior to the PEC meeting held at Saure village famers with STREIT PNG officers and trainers after a two-day the Kaindi Campus (Wewak) on Monday training 10 August 2020, explain the programme’s objective which is “to

increase sustainable and inclusive economic development of The first Vanilla Husbandry and Processing Training organised rural areas” under three value chains of Cocoa, Vanilla and by Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade Fisheries. (STREIT PNG) Programme attracted many youth who are the

The presentation took note of the existing budwood gardens established under the provincial DAL, Cocoa Board, ACIAR, PPAP and Smart Cocoa Program (SCP) in East and West Sepik Provinces. The nurseries currently in operation and will be used to supply bud sticks and the cocoa nurseries to raise root stock seedlings, bud graft and distribute to the cocoa farmers within the districts down to LLGs and the wards under service contract arrangements.

East Sepik Governor (standing left) explaining STREIT PNG programme to STREIT Briefs LLG presidents Fencing STREIT to replace senile cocoa trees with Fencing work for the provincial DAL headquarters in Wewak Cocoa Pod Borer tolerant clones where the STREIT PNG Programme office is located along Wharf Road has been completed bringing a new face to the premises. A

security guard house at the gate or entrance has been erected as STREIT PNG Programme in collaboration with provincial DAL well. The site for the new office building just behind the DAL and Cocoa Board offices plans to replace old senile cocoa trees office has been cleared and awaiting construction. Renovation in the Greater Sepik Region with cocoa pod borer (CPB) tolerant work has started on the satellite office in , kindly trees. provided by the Provincial Fisheries office, to engage and support

farmers and fishers in West Sepik Province. In a meeting with Provincial DAL and Governor’s Smart Cocoa

Program in 21 August 2020, STREIT’s National Cocoa Officer New Vehicles Mr. John Meth presented the status of cocoa in the respective Three new Land Cruiser vehicles for the STREIT PNG programme Sepik Districts and outline the way forward for rehabilitation of arrived in Wewak at the end of this month. The vehicles will be old cocoa gardens or plots. ready for use by the programme in early September. Nine more

vehicles will be added in September. STREIT PNG office is already recruiting drivers for vehicles.

STREIT’s Acting Deputy Programme Coordinator Dr. Rabi Rasaily (left) chairing the meeting