NZ HIGH COMMISSION VISITS PNGUoT’s SoA

By Phyllia PISEP

The Papua New Guinea University of Technology’s (PNGUoT) School of Agriculture (SoA) is looking forward to fostering partnerships with the New Zealand High Commission, following their visit on Monday.

From left: First Secretary for Development, Madam Megan Levers, PNGUoT Vice Chancellor, Professor Ora Renagi, Deputy High Commissioner, His Excellency Charlie Gillard, and Zoey Harrison representing the NZ Consulate.

The visit was aimed at raising awareness about the agricultural programs that are offered in New Zealand, and how PNGUoT, through the School of Agriculture, can utilize these opportunities.

The Deputy High Commissioner, His Excellency Charlie Gillard, said New Zealand has provided agricultural support to PNG for years, and this support is more focused on agricultural aspects relevant to the PNG context. Initially, it was to support fresh produce markets.

” New Zealand also prioritizes the education sector in which agriculture is one of the key themes for the scholarship programs offered, and we will briefly talk to students about the opportunities for students who are doing their degrees and masters can venture into PhD. We also offer short-term training as well for both staff and students,” said His Excellency.

*The Deputy High Commissioner, His Excellency Charlie Gillard during the meet with Professor Ora Renagi in Lae on Monday.*

Dean of the Faculty of Natural Resources, Professor Macquin Maino, acknowledged the visit from the New Zealand High Commission, saying this visit highlights the opportunities available.

*Professor Maino during the discussion meeting with the NZ High Commission at the School of Agriculture (SoA).*

“For us, the School of Agriculture, we are particularly interested in the training of our students in areas of undergraduate and post-graduate studies and with the visit we can venture into that aspect of opportunities.”

Professor Maino added that the University is working on ways to build commercial production activities within its Schools, which the Farm operating under the School of Agriculture has successfully done over the years. The School of Agriculture is boosting its farm activities so it can expand to a large-scale commercial production system which has already started.

“The two schools under the Faculty of Natural Resources, the School of Agriculture and the School of Forestry can generate enough internal revenue to support their progress”.

This is in line with the launching of the country’s National Agriculture Sector Plan for the years 2024 to 2033. The sector plan highlights the vision of shifting all subsistence farmers to commercial farmers, which the School of Agriculture is hoping to achieve through its resources.

PNGUoT’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ora Renagi, said, ” A huge challenge for this University and its positive progress into the future is to ensure that the science and technology studied is transferred into impacting the livelihoods of the population.”

His Excellency added that New Zealand is keen for further discussions in due course regarding how they can partner with PNGUoT to support the vision. The vision of ensuring science and technology are studied is transferred to impacting livelihoods with agricultural developments.

” I think more broadly in the education sector, we’ll be keen to stay engaged with PNGUoT as a key University in terms of agriculture.”