Sustainability, innovation in agriculture headline Trukai Field Day

One of Trukai Industries’ most important  agricultural events, the Rice and  agricultural Development Field Day,  will boast a diverse range of activities and exhibits at its’ Erap Farm this Friday. Now in its third year, the annual event will showcase innovation within Papua New Guinea’s agricultural  industry through a range of demonstrations, while providing an insight into the products and processes of  Trukai. The event will be centred on ‘Developing Integrated Farming Systems for Food Security in PNG’.

Trukai Agricultural Manager, Jarrod Pirrie, said the day’s agenda will be about much more than Trukai’s primary  product.

“Discussion on rice growing will still feature on the day but more as part of a rotation of produce that can be  grown. Mung beans and stockfeed are also included as sustainable food items, as examples.”

Among those scheduled  to speak at the event are Trukai Industries CEO, Greg Worthington-Eyre who will  deliver the opening remarks and PNG Agriculture Minister, Tommy Tomscoll.

The Minister is no stranger to addressing the Field Day audience, having given a stirring call to arms last year in  which he encouraged local rice manufacturers to stop importing produce to PNG.

Also  included in the official program are remarks from the Vice Chancellor of UNITECH, Dr Albert Schram and  Morobe Governor, Kelly Naru.

For the first time this year, guests will have the chance to take in a bird’s eye view of Trukai’s work in the province, with a helicopter ride for distinguished guests, to the Chingwam rice pilot project, included as part of  the event.

Mr Pirrie said the Chingwam rice growers are among a host of farming communities that will be represented on  the day.

“We have a number of different groups coming in to attend,” he said.

“There will be farmers from the Central Province, West New Britain, Naramanghi and Sibi, as well as other  provinces where we have a partnership with growers.

“Organisations such as Women In Agriculture Development Foundation and the Oro Rice Growers Co-operative  will also participate in the event.”