Agriculture college has key role to play in development

By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL

HAC acting principal Philip Senat congratulates Wesley Mapa of West New Britain province for being the dux of the 2010 certificate in agriculture class. Mapa came top in management studies, crops and soils, livestock and rural engineering

The Highlands Agricultural College will continue to play an important role in enhancing human resource capacity for the agriculture sector.
However, the college, operated by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock in Mt Hagen, needs adequate funding to support infrastructure development and institutional strengthening programmes.
DAL’s director for agriculture education and training, Cecilia Kagena, made the remarks during the college’s 37th graduation recently.
A total of 89 students graduated with post-certificate diplomas in tropical agriculture and certificates in agriculture farming.
Kagena, who delivered the keynote address on behalf of the DAL secretary and ministry, said the college, which had produced over 2,000 post-certificate diploma graduates and over 1,500 participants on numerous specialised short training courses, had a special place in the history of agriculture development.
“The college will continue to play a key role in teaching and training both the farmers and the training of trainers who will assist others to improve their living standards, reduce poverty and hunger,” she said.
“Provision of appropriate training will increase the farmer’s capacity to realise their potential to develop their own solutions to emerging and unique challenges they face.
“With the national government’s emphasis in its PNG vision 2050 and the medium-term development programme on human resource capacity development, the college has a huge role to play in enhancing the human resource capacity for the sector.
“Everyone must be mindful that despite the mineral and petroleum boom, the agriculture sector remains the backbone of the country for years to come.”
Kagena said whilst the government had come up with policies and strategies to promote agriculture development, there was inadequate funding made available to support institutional strengthening programs and the college has suffered as a result.
She urged relevant agencies including national planning and monitoring department to give priority to the agriculture budget “if we are to be seen as implementers of the vision 2050 pillar on human capital development and wealth creation”.
Despite inadequate funding for the college operations, Kagena commended the college management and staff for their achievements leading to the successful graduation.
She commended the staff for their tireless efforts in conducting three training programmes run concurrently during the year.
Staff were also informed that there would be more opportunities for staff training programmes in 2011 to enhance their teaching skills.
Kagena told the graduating students that getting formal jobs was not everything and urged them to utilise their knowledge and skills to become farmers themselves.
“Obtaining a certificate is a great personal achievement and a start to a new chapter in your professional career in agriculture,” she said.
“However, I am extremely confident that with the certificate in your hand today, it would make your a more attractive candidate for a job, or as a community leader or as an entrepreneur anywhere in the agriculture sector.
“Be reminded that while we have the LNG project going crazy in recruiting young graduates, do not be sidetracked, however, be mindful also that as farmers we also have the opportunity and a duty to feed the people and be self-sustaining.”