East New Britain hosted the first of regional consultation workshops facilitated by the National Research Institute in partnership with the agriculture sector agencies from August 10 to 11.
Sector agencies, including NARI, converged to discuss and develop strategies to improve the agriculture sector to support the country’s economy. Among discussions were the need to have specialized skills, use of farm machinery, driving the sector forward with a passionate working attitude, working effectively and closely with farmers, setting up a monitoring and evaluation team within each sector organization; having a proper database system through research, developing resilience among vulnerable communities during natural disasters, and working closely with the private sector among others.
Similar regional consultation meetings for the agriculture sector were staged in Lae, Goroka, and Port Moresby.