Project partners – Community of Kaviananga and development partners show support with a ‘Unity Chain’ handshake at the project site.
As a community-based development organisation, OTDF values partnerships as an integral part of achieving our vision for fulfilling the development aspirations of the CMCA communities.
From 25-28 February, OTDF played host to a number of development partners, including the Western Provincial Administration (WPA), Innovative Agro Industries (IAI), WestAgro Holdings (WAH), Incentive Fund #4 (IF4), and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to witness firsthand the progress of agribusiness projects in the South and Middle Fly Trust regions.
Leonard Kipi, the Provincial Agriculture Coordinator representative from the WPA, Ian Middleton the WAH Chairman, Eitan Ribak of IAI, Cedric Moi of IF4, and Willie Koi from DFAT were accorded a traditional welcome in Gigwa and Nakaku (Suki Fly- Gogo), and Kaviananga (Middle Fly).
These important guests were given an insight to the proposed 500-hectare Fly Cocoa nucleus estate project in Suki, then headed upstream to visit the Kaviananga Rice trial site. The rice project is trialing eight varieties across lowland padi and upland sites. This project is a collaboration between OTDF and the IF4 program which has contributed PGK3.8 million.
OTDF acknowledges community support for development projects
Mr. Mari addressing the community at Nakaku, Suki Fly Gogo
The partners were also accompanied by staff and management of OTDF. OTDF Program Sustainable Development (PSSD)
Manager, Andrew Mari while addressing an enthusiastic crowd of over 300 villagers at Suki, said partner visits are important for Western Province. “The welcome you have shown tells the partners that you want development to come into your community”, he said.
Partnerships are the foundation for making sustainable development possible, and this work contributes to sustainable development goals number.