MEDIA RELEASE
7 November 2007
For immediate release
Tonga learns more about farming from PNG
Farmers and government officials from Tonga visited Papua New Guinea recently to learn how to improve their own pig and poultry industries.
The Tongans came to find out about the profitable feeding systems which are being developed by various pig and poultry projects in PNG.
Those feeding systems have been introduced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), a statutory authority that operates as part of the Australian Government’s development cooperation program.
The study tour to PNG took place after the Tongan Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Savele, himself a pig farmer, learnt about the feeding programs in PNG and asked the Australian Government, through ACIAR, to start a similar initiative in Tonga.
ACIAR Country Manager for PNG and Solomon Islands, Dr Jacqui Wright, said the study tour and the feeding programs were all part of Australia’s commitment to encouraging more productive and sustainable agriculture across the region.
The PNG study tour included three livestock farmers from Tonga – Christopher Mafi, Metotisi Vete and Latu Vehikite – Tongan Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Forest and Fisheries official, Otenili Pifeleti, and Australian scientists, Dr Colin Cargill and Dr Phil Glatz, from the South Australian Research and Development Institute.
The group spent six days in PNG and two days in Solomon Islands between 10-20 August studying the pig and poultry systems being used in various ACIAR projects.
Mr Mafi, who runs a broiler poultry farm, thanked ACIAR for arranging the study tour, and said the farmers had learned possible ways to reduce production costs which could make chicken more affordable for the average Tongan family.
According to Dr Glatz, who has managed other ACIAR projects in the region, major issues constraining the development of a commercial pig and poultry sector in Tonga are the lack of a local feed manufacturing industry and the high cost of imported feed.
Media Inquiries: Jacqui Wright or Cathy Pianga on Tel: 325 9333 ext 299 or ext 315; Fax: 323 5296; email [email protected] or [email protected]