European Union project workshop at NARI

Caption: Participants of the workshop at the Sir Alkan Tololo Research Centre – Bubia, outside Lae.

 

By JAMES LARAKI of NARI

 

An inception workshop is underway this week at the National Agricultural Research Institute headquarters in Lae to develop and plan activities of a mega project to be implemented in three Western Pacific countries.

The European Union (EU) -supported project "Generation and adaptation of improved agricultural technologies to mitigate climate change-imposed risks to food production within vulnerable smallholder farming communities in Western Pacific countries" is implemented by NARI in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), Solomon Islands, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Vanuatu and the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU) of Austria.

Action coordinator Dr Workneh Ayalew said the inception workshop indicated the start of the implementation phase of the project after it was officially launched in Port Moresby in March this year.

Dr Workneh said the objectives of the inception workshop were to: apprise participants of the planned project activities; canvas opinions of key stakeholders on the major activities and on selection of suitable target communities; and affirm list of activities to be undertaken during year one of the project.

Dr Worknew, who is also in charge of the livestock component of the project, said the workshop was expected to create common understanding among key stakeholders on the objectives, major activities and expected results of the project, and administrative arrangements.

"It also expected to collate background and baseline information about target communities and related actions," he added.

The project, which comes under the EU science and technology programme, is to mitigate climate change risks associated to food security and livelihoods for vulnerable smallholder farming communities in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.

It is aimed at improving food production capacity of smallholder farming communities in the three countries, where climate change-induced problems are becoming significant threats to agricultural production and productivity.

The main focus of this project is to identify appropriate types of water technologies and alternative crops/crop varieties and livestock/livestock feeding systems to help sustain and improve food production under drought, excess precipitation and saline soil conditions.

The project, to be implemented over a five-year period, will cover 11 vulnerable sites in the three countries, covering about 100 households per site.

This will eventually lead to about 2.4 million smallholder crop-livestock mixed farmers.

More than 20 participants comprising representatives from the Delegation of EU to PNG, NARI, MAL, DARD, Boku, World Vision Pacific development group and community representatives are in attendance.

Similar workshops are planned to be held in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu this month to start the implementation phase of the project in these countries.

Importance of training in food safety standards

By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL

 

Papua New Guinea needs to strengthen its efforts in promoting food safety standards and improving its level of compliance to sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

Like other developing countries, PNG is facing increased challenges due to globalisation and a competitive international environment and must work with relevant international bodies that govern international safety standards.

This was the message given to participants attending a training program on the quality management system auditors and basic tools for food safety.

The training is the first of its kind and has attracted participants from various organisations from the private and government sectors.

In a speech delivered on behalf of Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL), the director for science and technology branch, Ian Onaga, said as PNG geared up for trade liberalisation, it needed to adjust to cope and respond proactively to challenges of globalisation and follow suitable trade protocols.

Onaga said PNG must work together with relevant organisations to strengthen the multicultural trading system that must ensure fairness and equity.

The setting up of internationally recognised food safety systems is a sure way of ensuring fairness and equity in trade, in addition to securing better recognition.

PNG is a member of various international agencies and has an obligation to undertake the necessary steps for monitoring and ensuring compliance for the safety of its people.

"It is very important to strengthen PNG's capacity to be more competent in the field of quality and safety. For safeguarding on the long term environment and health of consumers, government must develop a participatory approach to compliance."

Onaga said the training would help to ensure that PNG could benefit within the importing and exporting channels, and boost the capability to access and control the possible risks to the environment and human health situations.

Participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to provide safety food and ascertain quality of food.

The training, which will run from May 2-13, has been made possible under the K11 million EU-funded project "Trade Related Assistance" (EU-TRAP) to PNG, supervised by the Department of National Planning and Monitoring and implemented by the Trade Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Under component 2, the two-week training is being facilitated and managed by the newly set- up Agrofood Safety and Codex PNG Unit within DAL.

This unit, located in the science and technology branch, has been one of the main beneficiaries of the EU-TRAP assistance since 2009.

Ian Erskine, an international certified trainer and facilitator from ACI Global company, based in Australia who has vast knowledge, skills and experience in the field of quality management systems auditing and food safety aspects of the entire food chain, has been engaged to conduct the training in PNG.

Most of the participants are in one way or another responsible for addressing the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) compliance issues in the country in an attempt to promote trade facilitation and protect the health of consumers.

EU-TRAP management and DAL hope that after this intensive training, PNG will benefit tremendously once the trainees apply their new knowledge and skills to promote SPS compliance issues.

Weekly coffee market report for Papua New Guinea

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Greens leader vows to probe undersea mining

By PATRICK TALU

 

THE Australian Greens leader, Bob Brown, said he will push for an Australian senate inquiry into the impact of the world's first undersea mining operated by Nautilus Minerals for its Solwara 1 project in the Bismarck Sea, The National reports.

Brown had just left Port Moresby after attending PNG Greens Party launch in Madang, where he met with Environment Minister Benny Allan and representatives of the PNG Greens party.

Brown told Radio Australia upon his return home early this week that he was worried about the environmental impact of the Solwara 1 gold and copper project on PNG's north coast, the world's first deep sea mine.

Brown said the project was using new robot technologies to mine the sea floor.

"This is something that's going to, if it works there, and Singaporean vessels are currently involved in experimenting with that, extend to oceans elsewhere around the world and of course, the dumping from the process metals there is going to be left on the sea floor as well.

"It's a very, very worrying direction for mining to be taking," he said.

The deep sea mining project is set to begin production in 2013 following the official contract signing between the company and the state's nominee, Petromin Holdings, in March to finalise details to start work.

The project is said to set the benchmark as the world's first deep sea mining project with capital investment of about US$387 million, which is almost K1 billion in the 20 years of its lifespan.

Nautilus' exploration results have shown that there are high grade mineralised copper deposits 1,600m below sea level and extending to a maximum depth of 52m below the seafloor.

The exploration and drilling results show that the site is expected to produce around 800,000 tonnes of copper and up to 200,000 ounces of gold a year.

It is speculated that the project begins a new factor in the mining industry with the start of the first deep sea mining project.

Petromin, who owns 30% of the project will be meeting the costs on its own strengths while Nautilus, as the operator will put up 70%.

 

Chan: Free press means democracy

 

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

MEDIA freedom comes with great responsibility to be honest and fair in reports and to call attention when democracy is failing, Sir Julius Chan says, The National reports.

Speaking at Media Freedom Day celebrations in Port Moresby yesterday, the New Ireland governor challenged a gathering of media practitioners, partners and University of Papua New Guinea journalism students to use the free press to preserve democracy.

"For democracy to continue to flourish, we must promote freedom of the press," Sir Julius said.

"You must use that power to constantly insist that the government and its institutions, particularly the people's parliament that abysmally fails in its constitutional responsibilities, must fulfil its obligation to operate in open, transparent and accountable ways."

Sir Julius said the power of a free press "is to create and sustain democracy, freedom, respect and the God-given right to dignity for all human beings".

"But, on the other hand, it is an equally great responsibility. With your voice, there is the possibility of abuse of power.

"You must never become a tool of special interests or a particular political party or ideology.

"You must avoid slander, rumour, and unsubstantiated accusations and ensure the protection of the rights of people," he said.

Sir Julius said the twin challenges of power and responsibility of a free press had not led to the abuse of its power as the media had tried to act responsibly in serving the people.

He said since independence, the country had experienced and adhered to forms of democracy, progress and development that "did not actually achieve the substance of change in moving the country forward".

"This is where the free press needs to step in to make people aware of the failures and help in doing a better job.

"Let me say, at the onset, that I have taken some responsibility. I have been in positions of power. I have led this country. I have been several times finance minister and I freely acknowledge that on my watch, as on the watch of others who have led this country, our people have not really moved forward.

"This is not idle rhetoric. We need to open our eyes and the press, above all others, has the power to open our eyes. And, if we open our eyes, what do we see?" he asked.

Kua: Teine is people’s leader

Captions: Teine goes home...Martin Teine (white shirt) and mourners from his Endugla tribe awaiting the casket containing the remains of his late dad, Joe Mek Teine, as it was brought from a chartered plane. The casket, received by acting Prime Minister Sam Abal, was later taken to the Dicksons oval for public viewing.-Nationalpics by ZACHERY PER

 

THE late Chimbu politician Joe Mek Teine has been described as a leader who stood up for the grassroots people, The National reports. 

President of PNG Law Society Kerenga Kua said yesterday that Teine was a man who forfeited so much of his own career development to stay back in Chimbu to serve his people as an informal leader until he was elected in the 2007 national elections.

Teine was a former lawyer, member of Kundiawa-Gembogl and Constitutional and Law Reform Commission (CLRC) chairman at the time of his passing.

Teine began his career as a lawyer, practising as a prosecutor and later as a private practitioner establishing Joseph Mek Teine Lawyers in Mt Hagen and Chimbu from 1989 to 1994.

Kua said the late Teine's expertise and wisdom as a lawyer were immediately recognised by the government when he was appointed as CLRC chairman.

"Teine immediately used that position to initiate a review of the Sorcery Act which has been overlooked by successive leaders as unimportant."

Kua said: "But Teine saw that sorcery was one issue that was undermining the social fabric and human capital of this country.

"He also saw it as an institutional abuse of basic human rights against the weak and defenceless members of PNG society. Teine made it a priority to have a nationwide review with the goal of strengthening the Act.

"It was in the midst of this review that he passed away. It is a tragedy to the people of PNG, especially those underprivileged members of society, who have, in the past, and will in the future; suffer, as a result of our brutal belief in sorcery."

Kua said the legal profession had been very proud of the fact that it had produced leaders in so many key government departments and the public and private sector.

Teine's other distinguished roles in PNG included being a director of the coffee board, director of Kundiawa General Hospital, rugby league chairman of Simbu Warriors board, Simbu Chamber of Commerce chairman, Waghi Valley Golf Club president, Coffee Exporter council member and PNG National Party national coordinator.

"The PNG Law Society takes this opportunity to convey its condolences to his wife Dala, his children Emmanuel, Julianne, Johnny, Quina, the Enduka tribe and the people of Kundiawa-Gembogl, Chimbu province," Kua said.

Guinness challenges Bulolo people to take responsibility

Caption: Peter Guiness laying down the law on yesterday

 

The basic cornerstone to a peaceful and law abiding community begins in the family unit.

This was the challenge Morobe provincial police commander, chief superintendent Peter Guinness laid down for the people of Mumeng in the Bulolo district who had gathered to witness the launch of their district bulldozer in Bangalum yesterday.

Guinness provided the response following comments from the crowd wanting to ascertain what police action had been taken regarding the weekend ethnic outbreak and other law and order incidents over the last few months.

According to Morobe's top police officer, lawlessness in society was a responsibility for every citizen in any given locality and should not be thrust upon law enforcement agencies alone.

Following the two deaths that came about as a result of payback intentions, Guinness urged the crowd to seriously think in terms of the consequences of any actions or thoughts prior to carrying them out.

"Think about your family before you give in to the pressures of other people or joining other groups.

"Ask yourself who will look after your sons?

"Who will take care of your wives and care for your daughters before deciding to join unlawful activities?"

Guinness said the most- recent ethnic situation and the many other similar incidents seen in Bulolo were a result of youths not having respect for the law and for society at large.

"Where do these values start?

"They start with you and me as responsible adults, we have the responsibility to teach them – our children and young ones - the values of respect for society, respect for the rule of law and respect for life."

Referring to the two deaths, Guinness urged the people not to waste their lives in vain for something that could so easily have been avoided had the two men not tried to payback or get involved.

He said it was very clear there was a shortage of police men and women across the country and therefore urged the people to take it upon themselves to do the right things and exercise more responsibility starting in the home and family in order to give themselves and the communities they lived in a chance for the better.

"We are our own worst enemies.

"We create incidents and expect the police and other law-enforcement agencies to fix the problems that we have failed to be proactive about.

"If we are serious about maintaining the rule of law and order in our societies, then we should start in our homes, our clans our tribes and our communities now."