FAO Supports PNG in Adoption of Innovative Methods to Survey Rural

Project News: Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, June 2021 - Issue #7

Investment and Trade in Papua New Guinea (EU-STREIT)

©FAO

Dr Rabi Rasaily, FAO Senior Agricultural Officer, EU-funded STREIT Programme. UNJP/PNG/010/EC In this issue: FAO Supports PNG in Adoption • FAO supports PNG to adopts innovative survey methods of of Innovative Methods to agricultural activities Survey Rural Communities • EU supports the UN system to promote sustainable agri-rural development in PNG

• FAO Gender Team engages with he EU-funded STREIT Programme monitoring of the survey progress is key local stakeholders on gender T supported with technical expertise possible.” mainstreaming within the EU- lent by FAO, assists and capacitates “One important innovation is that funded STREIT Programme the PNG’s National Agricultural CAPI uses Global Positioning System to Research Institute (NARI) to designs • UN FAO partners with women and capture the location of the households and implements survey using and field plots. This means that we can youth’s Group in East Sepik to roll Computer Assisted Personal out cocoa work link the data collected to a Interviewing (CAPI) in the greater Geographical Information System as • EU-STREIT joins leading women Sepik Region. part of the programme’s overall and youth’s group to distribute During the recently conducted training monitoring and evaluation system,” cocoa seedlings to farmers for 30 enumerators in Wewak, said Thomas Muenzel, FAO Senior Valentine Nchinda, FAO International Investment Support Officer who • EU-STREIT’s Programme Steering Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist contributed to the design of the Committee convened online to of the programme highlighted the survey. review Inception Phase of the Programme benefits of CAPI, stressing that “it The CAPI capacity developed in the saves a lot of time and provides course of the baseline survey by NARI • Mainstreaming gender immediate access to the data for and partners will be very useful, not perspectives into agri-food Value analysis and thereby substantially only during the programme chains under EU-STREIT reduces survey costs.” implementation, when more specific • 100 farmers from 20 villages As per Marjorie Andrew, NARI surveys will be conducted on attend first formal ‘vanilla Program Director and the Survey agriculture and fisheries in East and cultivation, husbandry and Coordinator, “Compared to paper- West Sepik, but also will be useful for processing training’ under EU- based survey, the data accuracy is national institutions well beyond EU- STREIT actually much improved as CAPI allows STREIT, in support of Government’s for validations during the interview. At efforts to achieve the Sustainable

the same time, almost real-time Development Goals.

FAO

EU Supports the UN System to Promote Sustainable Agri-rural Development in PNG

hanks to the generous financial T support provided by the EU, FAO as the lead UN agency in promoting sustainable agri-rural development across the world, steers the implementation of a major rural development programme in Papua New Guinea to support rural entrepreneurship, investment, and trade (EU-STREIT) in two East and West Sepik provinces. Focused on increasing sustainable and inclusive economic development of rural areas in the northwestern part of the Country, this EU-funded programme aims to increase the economic returns and opportunities from three value chains of cocoa, vanilla and fishery in the region. ©FAO Developed under the umbrella of the 11th European Development Fund, Local farmers in the East Sepik Province participate in FAO EU-STREIT training on low-cost cocoa clone propagation this FAO-led programme works on and budding. strengthening and improving the • Increasing production of, and access Besides, 158 lead farmers (45 female) efficiency of value chain enablers to renewable energy systems; received Training of Trainers (ToT) on factors, including the business cocoa budding, and 1 022 farmers environment and supporting • Improving climate-proof rural transport infrastructure. were trained on coco and vanilla sustainable, climate-proof transport technologies, and improved and energy infrastructure Despite the obstacles created by the production, management and development in the Sepik Region, with COVID-19 pandemic, since the processing practices. focuses on the following areas: commencement of this major venture in late 2019, FAO together with the All these achievements delivered by • Increasing sustainable production partner UN agencies including the FAO and the UN systemwide and inclusiveness of the cocoa value International Labour Organization, partnership in the Sepik Region was chain; International Telecommunication made possible thanks to the EU • Increasing sustainable production Union, United Nations Capital financial contribution that aimed at and inclusiveness of the vanilla value Development Fund and United fostering agricultural production and chain; Nations Development Programme, rural development in the Country. • Increasing sustainable production successfully established the The support provided by the EU and inclusiveness of fishery value programme in the provinces and the enables the UN to tirelessly directs its chain (coastal, riverine and programme succeeded in delivery key efforts to make sure that the farming- aquaculture); activities and benefit to local dependent rural populations benefit beneficiaries in target areas directly. • Establishing conducive policy and from shared prosperity and contribute regulatory environment for As of 31 December 2020, 9 729 to growth and development. It also sustainable rural agripreneurs and households (estimated 48 645 people) supports the Country to improve its MSMEs established; directly benefitted from Cocoa performance in managing activities, including the distribution of environmental resources and risks • Strengthening value chain support 37 205 cocoa clone seedlings to emanating from climate change and services and resilient to climate establish cocoa budwood gardens. disasters.

change impacts;

2 FAO Gender Team Engages with Key Local Stakeholders on Gender Mainstreaming within the EU-funded STREIT Programme

ncouraging youth and recognizing “These trainers who will henceforth Council of Women, Youth and Persons E the vital role of women in the be called coaches, can be anyone that with Disabilities (PWDs) from Kalang. development of the Cocoa, Vanilla and lives in the community such as, The same is being arranged for West Fisheries value chains was the main farmers, teachers, or just any actor Sepik Province. focus of a meeting between Support to within the value chain who will “Gender and youth inclusion is a key Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment remain in the community to continue part of the EU-funded STREIT and Trade in Papua New Guinea (EU- to provide them support after the programme with women playing a key STREIT) and East Sepik provincial programme ends,” explained EU- role in the targeted value chains. EU- administration and government line STREIT International Gender and STREIT and the EU-funded SPOTLIGHT agencies in Wewak on 26 January Youth Inclusion Specialist Ms. Patu programme on Gender Based Violence 2021. Shang. will be coordinating closely in the The purpose of the meeting was to seek During the meeting, the FAO Gender Sepiks” advised Mr. Anthony Bennett, understanding and collaboration in the and Youth Inclusion Strategy was FAO Lead Technical Officer of the mainstreaming of gender and youth reviewed and discussed by the programme. inclusion under the three value chains participants. The local agent for EU-funded STREIT of cocoa, vanilla and fisheries being EU-STREIT used the opportunity to Programme, Dr. Deane Woruba, in his supported by the EU-funded STREIT also create a linkage with the remarks explained that EU-STREIT aims Programme. provincial administration. The to help rural people move away from This collaboration will take place meeting was co-chaired by EU-STREIT subsistence to commercial farming through a new Gender Mainstreaming and the provincial administration and agriculture, especially now that cash and Technical Working Group was also attended by line ministries/ crops such as vanilla and cocoa are (GMTWG) that will mainly partners and NGOs like East Sepik being targeted for improvement. communicate, coordinate and ensure collaboration among stakeholders including NGO’s, donors, community EU-STREIT’s major activities on Gender and Youth Inclusion leaders and provincial administration from line ministries and other UN • Constant trainings and workshops on raising of awareness among agencies such as UN women. This stakeholders, partners and beneficiaries on the important role played by collaboration is important to help all women and youth in the three value chains. implementers and stakeholders to • Conducting focus group discussions with women and men across all three understand the programme as well as value chains to identify gender-based constraints within value chains as well where women and youth can as possible approaches to remedy the constraints. participate actively and assertively under the Cocoa, Vanilla and Fisheries • Developing Programme’s Gender and Youth Inclusion Strategy based on the value chains. The group will equally consultative meetings with local stakeholders (provincial administration, line help to provide technical advice and ministry officers, NGOs and UN agencies) as well as desk review ofmain support to key sectors as well as documents on “Gender in Agriculture in Papua New Guinea.” facilitate information sharing. • Establishing Gender Mainstreaming Technical Working Group for the Also, this core group will be responsible coordination of gender and youth inclusion activities within the Programme for identifying trainers or coaches for as well as other actors in the province. Training of Trainers (ToT), who will be • Supporting the National Council of Women to select and train women and extension officers in the province and youth groups in leadership and financial management of micro, small and district and also at Local-level medium enterprises involved in the three value chains, as well as other Government or village level to provide income-generating activities. support to communities on the cocoa,

vanilla and fisheries value chains. • Increasing the participation of women at -EU STREIT’s trainings by about 40%.

3 UN FAO Partners with Women and Youth’s Group in East Sepik to Roll Out Cocoa Work

he Food and Agriculture T Organization of the United Nations (FAO) leads the implementation of the “Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade in Papua New Guinea (EU-STREIT) Programme. Funded by the European Union (EU), this rural agriculture development programme is engaging the service of a women and youth led group to help advance cocoa value chain in Wosera- Gawi District of East Sepik Province. The signing of a Letter of Agreement (LoA) between FAO under EU-STREIT and Foundation for Women in Agriculture Development (FOWIAD) Cooperative Society Ltd in Hayfield,

Maprik District, on Wednesday, 17 ©FAO

February 2021, paves a way forward for this collaboration for the benefit of smallholder cocoa growers. Left to Right: Mr. Ken Shimizu, Head of FAO Country Office in PNG; Mr. Adrien Mourgues, Deputy Head of Cooperation of EU Delegation to PNG ; and Ms. Monica Otto, Executive Director of FOWIAD. Areas of cooperation and activities to be undertaken collaborative under this years. The group’s membership to experience real changes in their lives. agreement will see FOWAID handles includes displaced youth, widows and “This is your programme. The success of registration of young cocoa farmers persons with disabilities. this programme depends on you. into cluster groups, conducts low-cost Wosera-Gawi people must change “To engage a NGO is a good strategy clone budding training and GPS yourselves by supporting and taking to make the project sustainable. 2021 mapping of 1 000 cocoa blocks, part in this programme,” said Mr. is an implementation year for the distributes 100 000 clone seedlings to Shimizu programme and we all must work 2 000 youths (50 per youth) and clone together with FOWIAD to change your The Head of FAO Country Office also cocoa expansion to one hectare per lives,” said Mr. Adrien Mourgues announced that the International youth farmer (625 clone cocoa/ha). representing the EU Delegation in Labour Organization, a UN sister This collaboration will enable the PNG at the ceremony. organization, will rehabilitate over 300 development of knowledge and skills in kilometres of rural road in the Sepiks to Mr. Ken Shimizu, the Head of FAO the cocoa value chain that will remain improve market access to support Country Office further explained that and continue to service the community smallholder farmers towards 2020 was an inception year and the after the end of the programme. agripreneurship. invasion of COVID-19 also delayed “FOWIAD unites people to work arrival of field experts, but despite “In the development of cocoa, vanilla together. Thank you, EU, FAO and other these challenges offices were and fish, let us work hand in hand as a UN partners, implementing EU-STREIT. established in Wewak and Vanimo to family, with the youth ready to take When you leave us, your foot print will run a good number of trainings and over from us tomorrow - if they are not stay with us,” said Mrs. Monica Otto, distribute Cocoa Pod Borer (CPB) learning along with their parents, there Executive Director of FOWIAD. tolerant seedlings to thousands of will be no guarantee for their future,” farmers including Women and Youth. said Ms. Patu Shang, the EU-STREIT FOWIAD is a leading women in International Gender and Youth agriculture group in the Sepik giving Mr. Ken Shimizu, also encouraged Inclusion Specialist.

hope to 2 000 plus members for 20 plus farmers to support EU-STREIT in order

4 EU-STREIT Joins Leading Women and Youth’s Group to Distribute Cocoa Seedlings to Farmers

he EU-funded STREIT Programme in T collaboration with FOWIAD Cooperative Society Ltd. launched the first distribution of 6 150 cocoa pod borer (CPB) tolerant seedlings to 123 farmers in the hinterland of East Sepik Province. This partnership follows a LoA signed between FAO under EU-funded STREIT Programme and FOWIAD, a leading women and youth non-government organization (NGO), on 17 February 2021. ©FAO

FOWIAD for the last 20 plus years has been supporting over 2000 women and youth including widows, single parents EU-STREIT distributes 6 150 cocoa seedlings to farmers in the hinterland of East Sepik Province. and families, to venture into agriculture hamlet is expected to propagate their which have been infested and to support their livelihood. own supply of clonal seedlings. In the destroyed by the CPB pest. The 29 female and 94 male recipients process, they will continue to improve The aspiring women’s leader behind of the clonal seedlings are from on their budding speed and at the FOWIAD is Mrs Monica Otto, who, with Jambitangit and Lingu villages in North same time train at least 10 other the support of her extension officers, Wosera LLG. farmers, thereby passing on this were joined by the EU-STREIT team to “We want to say thank you to FOWIAD important live skill for the launch their first supply of CPB tolerant for bringing FAO under EU-STREIT to communities even after the end of the seedlings under the partnership support us,” said Ward Member and programme. agreement. farmer, Smith Takura on behalf of “The minimum period for seedlings to “You fathers and husbands are the cocoa families who gathered at the start bearing fruits is 18 months as pillars, centre and soldiers of the family FOWIAD nursery site in Hayfield, long as you (farmers) manage your and I call on you to stand behind our Maprik to receive 18 varieties of clone cocoa blocks to ensure that the mothers and girls, letting them to take seedlings. seedlings grow well. We also have a the lead in the cocoa value chain Deputy Coordinator of the EU-funded package of activities within the development with the support of EU- agreement signed with FOWIAD, to STREIT Programme, Dr. Pavel Burian at STREIT PNG,” said Mrs Otto. the official launching urged the farmers work closely with you. Implying Mrs. Otto’s call was reverberated by the to take part in cocoa work as a serious sustainability in order to serve that we programme’s International Gender and business for the programme to support will not leave you behind,” explained Youth Inclusion Specialist, Mrs. Patu them well through FOWIAD. Dr. Rabi G. Rasaily, Senior Agricultural Officer of the Programme. Shang who invited the husbands to give “The programme will help you to take their wives, daughters and the youth in active part in agriculture as a business Women and Youth who are often general, the opportunity to take a front ignored or left behind in many and not as a leisure activity. Therefore, row in the development of the cocoa we will help people who are able to agriculture opportunities in the past value chain so as to guarantee a are now showing keen interest in mobilize themselves so it is important sustainable future. that you put in your own effort to cocoa farming activities like CPB clone “We cannot leave our women and benefit from the programme,” says Dr. propagation and budding trainings young population behind. We’re either Burian. that the programme is rolling out to rural communities in the Sepik. walking with them side by side or they To ensure that no one is left behind, are in front while the husbands give the Budding of cocoa seedlings is the one recipient per household was necessary push, because FAO and the selected after having benefited from latest innovation in the cocoa value EU are conditioning this programme for cocoa propagation training. She/he, chain to produce CPB tolerant everyone in the household to benefit,” varieties to replace old cocoa trees

with the support of their family unit or said Ms. Shang.

5 EU-STREIT’s Programme Steering Committee Convened Online to Review Inception Phase of the Programme

he Programme Steering Committee of Papua New Guinea’s systems and investigation, which is undergoing. (PSC) overseeing the European build their capacities. The Co-chairs T • Two Provincial Gender Mainstreaming Union funded Support to Rural encourage EU-STREIT to work closely Technical Working Groups has been Entrepreneurship, Investment and with the Provincial Administrations so respectively formed in East and West Trade programme in Papua New Guinea that they are able to engage with local Sepik Provinces. (EU-STREIT), held a virtual zoom stakeholders more effectively. conference connecting PSC members • An assessment has been made for the The UN Resident Coordinator Mr. and observers from Wewak, Vanimo procurement of healthy vanilla vines to Gianluca Rampolla, in his remarks said and Port Moresby, on Monday, 19 April distribute to farmers, to replace disease although year 2020 was marked by 2021. -affected vines. the global COVID-19 pandemic, the EU This is the second PSC meeting, this -STREIT team still managed to • Commencement of the Fisheries value time online, marking the successful establish its presence in the Sepiks chain study in December 2020 under a completion of the Inception Phase of and set up offices in Wewak and LoA between National Fisheries the rural agriculture development Vanimo. In addition to conducting Authority and the STREIT Programme. programme supporting smallholder research and planning, he added, the • Renovation of the Provincial Fisheries farmers engaged in cocoa, vanilla and team rolled out initial interventions, office in Wewak started in August 2020 fisheries value chains in East and West directly supporting first thousands of to ensure quality work environment for Sepik Provinces. The meeting reviewed farmers which include a significant fisheries officers and to decrease the the results of the Inception Phase of the number of women and youth. fire/occupational hazard in the Programme (operations and financial) Of the activities that were successfully structure. and the proposed Implementation plan implemented during the inception and budget for 2021. • Assessments of fishery resources, fish year, which the PSC discussed, some farming activities, riverine and coastal The second PSC was co-chaired by achievements in terms of outcome fishing, fish preservation were also Koney Samuel, Secretary, Department and output, are as follows: conducted in six districts of East Sepik of National Planning and Monitoring, • A total of 9 729 households, and two districts of West Sepik. and Head of Cooperation of European covering 48 645 people, have directly Union Delegation, Mr Rene Mally. • To strengthen climate resilient and benefitted from cocoa activities. It more efficient value chain enablers, The Co-chairs acknowledged the includes establishing 92 budwood FAO under EU-STREIT collaborated with success of the FAO and UN Partners in gardens and distributing 37 205 cocoa several local manufacturing companies establishing the Programme in the clone seedlings. to explore financing options for a larger provinces and encouraged the partners • 158 lead farmers which includes 45 investment in West Sepik. to speed up the implementation of females have been trained as trainers outstanding activities to ensure a • Selection of some rural roads totaling (ToT) on cocoa budding, and 1 022 smooth transition into the 200 kms for maintenance was farmers, including 160 female and 228 Implementation Phase despite the conducted and locals have been trained youth, were trained on cocoa and challenged brought about by the COVID for initial maintenance activities for six vanilla technologies. -19 Pandemic. The co-chairs requested roads totaling 50kms. the EU-STREIT to further promote • A partnership agreement has been • In East Sepik, a renewable Energy effective collaboration with established with Department of scheme survey was completed by government agencies and as far as Agriculture and PNG University of United Nations Development

possible utilize the existing Government Technology on new vanilla disease Programme contractor.

6 Mainstreaming Gender Perspectives into Agri-food Value Chains under EU-STREIT

nsuring that the EU-funded STREIT E Programme aligns with family values, was the focus of a 3-day workshop organized by the gender and youth inclusion team. The training for cocoa, vanilla and fish farming families in Wewak District, pulled together 32 participants (3

women, 12 girls, 14 boys and 3 elderly ©FAO

men) in a mind-boggling 3-day training ©FAO workshop held from 20 to 22 April 2021, at the Sepik Centre of Hope in EU-STREIT Team conducts workshops on gender mainstreaming in agri-food value chains in the Sepiks. Wewak town. The EU-STREIT being implemented such as gender concepts, gender Youth Inclusion Specialist for the under the leadership of FAO, with an awareness, mainstreaming gender programme. emphasis on local agripreneurs, perspectives into agri-food value During the training sessions, focus considers gender and youth inclusion as chains, agribusiness group and agri- group discussions were held to bring a critical factor affecting food security, cooperative creation and group out the gender-based constraints (GBC) nutrition and household incomes, and dynamics and issues of gender-based in the fisheries and cocoa value chains in its entirety, affects the sustainable violence within the cocoa, vanilla and as an example. The exercise helped development of agri-food value chains. fisheries communities were some key both the female and male participants training topics. Moreover, the prevalence of gender understand how gender roles in a male based-violence (GBV) among cocoa/ “We’re here to talk about doing dominated society like in the Sepiks, vanilla/fisheries communities also business as a family. This is to ensure imposed by traditional norms, negatively impacts on efforts to that the interventions by the FAO and demarcate responsibilities starting in encouraging economic empowerment partners under this EU-funded STREIT the household can lead to and gender balance when it comes to Programme aligns with the family undervaluation of women’s decision making by individuals in family values which is the key to succeed in contribution to the value chain, thereby settings at the LLG, district and smallholder agriculture, agri-business denying the economic value of women provincial levels. and life in general,” explained Ms. and girls to contribute effectively in Patu Shang, International Gender and agriculture work and household To address the above issues, topics income. The sessions on financial literacy, familiarized participants with basic financial and budgeting concepts like income, expenditure, investment and savings and the importance of maintaining a financial diary starting at the household and farm level. Participants were confident to share

their challenges as well as what they

learnt at the workshop. ©FAO The same trainings will be rolled out to EU-STREIT provides learning opportunities to promote gender and youth inclusion along the Cocoa, Vanilla and other districts of East and West Sepik Fisheries value chains in the Sepiks.

Provinces.

7 100 Farmers from 20 Villages Attend First Formal ‘Vanilla Cultivation, Husbandry and Processing Training’ under EU-STREIT

he EU-funded STREIT Programme Director of Karawari Tropical Vanilla. continue to reach out to the T Karawari LLG has a population of remote communities in the Sepik for all about 15 000 people and their diet to benefit equally from cocoa, vanilla comprise of sago and fish mainly, and fisheries value chains activities. On while cocoa is their traditional source 20-23 April 2021, EU-STREIT officers ©FAO of income, but like other parts of the

travelled to the Black Water Lake area Sepik, the pod borer pest cut off this of the Karawari LLG along the Sepik ©FAO lifeline and many ventured into vanilla River, and conducted a successful 4-day as an alternative source to support ‘Vanilla Cultivation, Husbandry and their livelihood. Additionally, the high EU-STREIT trains farmers in the Sepiks to improve their Processing Training’ which attracted agri-business skills and practices. cost and inconvenience of 100 rural farmers from 20 villages. transporting heavy cocoa bags make are conducted in collaboration with The training was held in two sessions, vanilla an ideal cash crop for these Provincial Department of Agriculture theoretical and practical, focusing on fishing communities. Vanilla cuttings and Livestock. Dr. Rabi Rasaily, Senior cultivation practices (site selection, can be distributed easily as well Agricultural Officer for the Programme space marking and planting) throughout the LLG. says: “Vanilla is a lucrative industry in husbandry/management practices The vanilla trainings conducted by EU- the Sepik, but unlike other cash crops, (shade control, looping, mulching, STREIT is pulling together a high the lack or absence of quality control pollination) processing/curing practices interest among Sepik women and measures and established market (killing, drying and packaging). youth who are usually left behind in linkages resulted in the drastic drop in However, the STREIT Programme gives programmes of this nature. street buying price per kilogram from more time on the practical sessions of K1000 and above in 2018 to between the training where farmers can actually So far a total of 919 farmers have K65 and K100 today. Hence, the see hands on demonstrations on all attended six trainings which include intervention with these first formal aspects of vanilla production from demonstration sessions. The trainings trainings is to help return the quality planting, management to processing/ were conducted in Wewak, Ambunti- and high price that was once enjoyed curing. Drekikier, Angoram (East Sepik) and by thousands of rural families as an Vanimo (West Sepik) and 375 were During the training, women and youths alternate source of income, apart from women and youth representing a high were encouraged and empowered as cocoa and fisheries, also supported 41 percent of total participants. The well to take lead in the vanilla business. under the programme. In addition, training with introduction of proper need of the hour is to support Spice “I see vanilla has a good value and it’s tools and equipment to process Industry Board to provide national easy to transport. My people can quality beans for an improved income guidelines on quality certification transport it from the village to the and livelihood are the first formal systems for all the actors along the market with lesser [transport] cost learning opportunities under EU- vanilla value chain that is accepted by unlike cocoa,” said Tombe Pasu, funded STREIT Programme. Trainings import countries.”

Contact information:

FAO UN Programme Office Department of Agriculture and Livestock Compound,

Wewak, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

Email: [email protected] | Phone: +675 436 0121

Website: http://www.fao.org/papuanewguinea/streit-png/en

under a CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO licence FAO