Ecoz Farming Solutions

The Importance of the Livestock Industry in Papua New Guinea and Its Potential.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has immense potential for developing its livestock industry, yet it faces significant challenges. The Livestock Development Corporation (LDC) has made strides by building abattoirs across the country, which could boost the local meat industry and support food security. However, the nation lacks a sufficient breeding stock to supply these facilities, forcing the LDC to import beef from Australia and New Zealand.

Despite the challenges, PNG's vast agricultural resources, including its vast grazing lands, provide a solid foundation for livestock farming. With strategic investment in breeding programs, improved veterinary services, and better infrastructure, the country could reduce its reliance on imports and develop a sustainable local industry.

For such initiatives to succeed, comprehensive strategies must be implemented, focusing on local capacity building, market access, and long-term development. By doing so, PNG can enhance food security, create jobs, and contribute to economic growth.

📷Markham Valley Secondary School|Cattle Project

Challenges Facing Papua New Guinea's Poultry Industry

In early 2023, Papua New Guinea imposed a ban on importing raw chicken, following recommendations from NAQIA, the nation's biosecurity authority. This decision was driven by concerns over the outbreak of Avian Influenza in neighboring Asian countries, which posed a potential biosecurity risk. While many viewed the ban as an opportunity to boost the local poultry industry and stimulate economic growth by engaging domestic producers, little progress has been made.

The cost of chicken products continues to rise, and smallholder involvement in the poultry sector remains minimal. Key challenges persist, including unaffordable poultry feed, poor infrastructure, and a mismatch between production rates and the growing demand for meat. Despite the efforts of the Poultry Industry Association to make incremental improvements, the industry continues to face significant hurdles. A more strategic and collaborative approach is needed to unlock the full potential of PNG's poultry sector.

📷 Markham Valley Secondary School |Poultry

CHIMBU CHEMIST PASSIONATES ABOUT FISH FARMING.

A senior chemist from Chimbu, Peter Supa, has transformed his passion for community development into a thriving fish farming venture, giving back to his village in an extraordinary way.

Despite his successful career with Hidden Valley Mining, Peter felt compelled to support his people back home, leading him to establish the ELIM FISH FARM in 2018. Starting with just seven ponds, Peter stocked 14,000 tilapia fish, which he sold to local markets for K10 to K15 per fish.

The project was selfunded through his earnings as a lab technician. He hired youths and church groups in his village to dig ponds and other physical jobs whee he paid them between K300 and K400.

Today, Peter has 14 large fish ponds, each 50 meters by 30 meters, with a constant production capacity of 300,000 fingerlings.

The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has recently assisted him in establishing a fish hatchery. With the help of the hatchery, ELIM FISH FARM can now produce up to 200,000 to 500,000 fingerlings every two weeks, thanks to advanced techniques like s*x reversal, which ensures faster growth of male fingerlings.

The demand for ELIM FISH FARM in Chimbu Province is so high that it sells up to 14,000 fish in just two weeks, in Chimbu Province alone.

Lately, ELIM FISH FARM has supplied 80,000 fingerlings to Gembogl District, 16,000 to Wabag, Enga Province, and a million to Sinasina-Yongomugl District, in Chimbu Province. Demand for ELIM FISH FARM fingerlings is extremely high.

Peter said that due to popular demand, he continues to expand his fish farming to cater to the demands. He said he is focused on one goal: ensuring that every family has access to an affordable, nutritious protein while creating local economic opportunities for the local people.

Source:PNG NEWS WHATSAPP CHANNEL

There is an observed widening gap between teachers and students. Educating students in today's world requires adaptive pedagogy, integration, and more flexibility to accommodate each student's needs. Traditional teaching and learning methods seem to be losing traction and becoming obsolete.

As educators, we often assume that our students have mastered the art of learning, grasped all concepts, and built their intelligence. However, it has been observed that some students have found themselves outside the classroom engaging in activities they deemed worthy and beneficial. Truancy is also observed among the students.

Efforts to rekindle the interest of these students and encourage their participation seem irrelevant and unlikely. Students find school boring compared to the outside world, which holds a strong attraction for them.

Educators need to intervene and engage students in building an interest in education, which comes with added challenges and responsibilities. All educators must be vigilant, open-minded, and enhance their competence in their content areas by being more inclusive.

Personal observation.
Photo: Gr 9B of BBSS

Agriculture presents complex challenges that require a multifaceted approach to address. Last night, I spent time researching and reading about a significant area that has the potential to improve farming.

services pose a significant challenge and hinder the progress of farming. My research confirms that, while we have ample information available, there are common . In an effort to aid the sector through digitalization, an e-agriculture policy was developed.

Agriculture holds significant potential to boost the local economy, provide food security, create employment, and improve living conditions.

Given the challenges in agricultural extension, the focus should now be on training . Educated farmers should be graduates of agricultural schools and colleges, where they gain the ability to communicate effectively, translate research into practice, and implement sector policies. By embracing the concept of educated farmers, agricultural extension services can become a thing of the past.

Every attending is part of a family, and families are part of a community and society. Focusing on this, converting selected secondary schools into -technical institutions may prove to be beneficial. The agro-tech concept may align well with the sector's needs and help achieve government ambitions.

This poem by Russell Kelfer;

You are who you are for a reason.
You’re part of an intricate plan.
You’re a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God’s special woman or man.
You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb,
You’re just what he wanted to make.
The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God’s plan in mind,
And they bear the Master’s seal.
No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you’d grow.
You are who you are for a reason,
You’ve been formed by the Master’s rod.
You are who you are, beloved,
Because there is a God!
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This edible June beetle turns to attract a lot of attention to the beetle consumers. When it appears, everyone assume beetle delicacy. They would collect and filled in their containers, with watery mouth for the afternoon meal.

📸 June beetle

Companion cropping in practice.
Integrating stone head cabbage, onions and Marigold.
Jaspah Sua

Amazing insights on Integrated Crop Management.

...Continued

School Sustainability Program: Registering School Business Arm

In our discussion of the school sustainability program, two potential approaches have been considered: incorporating the school's agriculture curriculum into student projects and practical learning, and collaborating with local communities through their cooperatives to promote more equitable and sustainable production and marketing. Now, let's explore the possibility of establishing a business arm for the school.

I am unsure if there are provisions within the Department of Education that permit schools like Bena Bena Secondary to have a business arm for sustainability. However, it is clear that schools have the potential to engage in business activities to support themselves.

Many of the school's development goals cannot be achieved through government subsidies alone. The funds provided are not adequate to address the infrastructural needs of the school or to procure essential support products for both students and teachers. Infrastructure remains a significant challenge in many schools, with an influx of students and a high teacher-student ratio putting a strain on limited funds.

It is crucial for schools to consider engaging in business ventures. Utilizing its capacities, establishing a business arm could greatly benefit Bena Bena Secondary and other schools facing similar challenges. For example, Bena Bena Secondary previously produced and packaged rice, but the program is currently on hold due to lack of support. It is important for school management to invest in initiatives aimed at supporting the school's sustainability, despite potential conflicting opinions. Commercializing farm produce and adopting a farm-to-shelf approach are potential avenues to explore.

Another school, St. Ignatius Secondary School, recently registered and launched its business arm to support its operations. There are valuable lessons to be learned from their experience, even if it means unlearning old practices and embracing new ones.

The time to start implementing these initiatives is now.

Image Source: https://lnkd.in/gn-detz5

Continued...

School Sustainability Program: Forging Partnerships with Corporations

In the previous article, I have talked about prioritizing on school farm projects. The school farm have the potential to produce and at the same time may minimize cost on rations.

The government subsidy is a fixed fund. If the funds are used outside of the stipulated guidelines, the school could run out of money. All funds must be used appropriately and in line with the stipulated operations. This article aims to discuss the possibilities for schools to enter into partnerships with corporations to produce goods under shared agreements.

Finding a balance with the communities is essential. Each school is located within a community and the students attending the school represent the different families in these communities. The idea of promoting educated farmers seems to fit well with the concept of knowledge transfer. As the agriculture extension program is impractical, the focus is now on training young students. By educating farmers within the community, the school can significantly benefit these students who can then contribute to their local cooperatives.

Introducing farming education in schools is another possibility. Schools can offer technical training in farming, creating avenues for knowledge transfer. This concept is geared towards adults and farmers within the cooperatives. The intended individuals can learn and embrace the practice of appropriate farming within the school environment. This practice helps the cooperatives in their farming ventures in a holistic manner.

The school can opt to purchase produce from the cooperatives after reaching an agreement. The school's agriculture department can offer trainings on the condition that it will purchase the produce at an agreed price, thereby creating a market for the cooperatives.

It is recognized that access to markets is a challenge for farmers, and the school aims to provide assistance in this area.
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📸 Gr 9 Agri Resource Book for OBE