Farmers Unite with EU-STREIT PNG to Promote Rural Women’s Right to Nutritious Food and a Sustainable Future

Wewak, Papua New Guinea – In the remote Nuku station, nestled deep in the West Sepik Province, a spirited march of over 100 farmers came together to celebrate Rural Women’s Right to Nutritious Food for a Sustainable Future. This event, organized by the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, in partnership with local administration, highlighted the invaluable role of rural women in ensuring food security and fostering sustainable communities. Participants included members of the Sultongo Business Group Inc., a local agribusiness supported by the Programme and many other cluster groups within the community.

Led by the Programme's Gender and Youth Inclusion Team, the day was dedicated to empowering rural women and reinforcing their right to nutritious food for a sustainable future. Symbolizing the daily lives of these women, participants carried traditional string bags filled with fresh garden produce as they walked through the station, singing songs of solidarity and appreciation for rural women’s tireless contributions to their families and communities.

The procession concluded at the Youth Hall, where representatives from the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, District Administration, and farmer groups shared messages of encouragement. Programme Coordinator Mr. Ali Said Yesuf, expressed gratitude for the collaboration between district government officials and farming communities in strengthening the cocoa, vanilla, and fisheries value chains. He urged attendees to leverage the Programme's support and training to enhance their practices.

"Apply the knowledge you gain from our capacity-building sessions," he encouraged. "With resources like cocoa klin pipes, you can boost production quality and increase earnings, helping to secure a better future for you and your children." 

Prior to this celebration, the Programme also conducted a three-day mentorship training led by its Gender & Youth Inclusion and SMEs Development Teams. The training culminated in a nutrition awareness session and cooking competition to enhance participants' understanding of balanced diets. Three teams, including a men-only group, a women-only group, and a mixed group, engaged in the competition, with the aim to highlight the importance of shared roles in meal preparation and other household tasks. To the surprise and delight of all present, the men-only group excelled in teamwork, coordination, timeliness and ability to prepare nutritious and well-balanced dishes, illustrating that cooking responsibilities, when effectively shared, can lead to better nutrition and time saving.  

The mentorship training attracted 224 participants, including 95 women and girls from the Sultongo Business Group and its satellite cluster groups, and covered essential topics such as Gender Concepts and Terminology, Group Dynamics, and the Visioning Journey, using the GALS (Gender Action Learning System) methodology to address gender-based violence at the household level. 

"As a community leader, the Visioning Journey is a crucial tool for planning and implementing development initiatives," shared Anastasia Tamaluku, a female farmer and Ward Member of Nuku Local Level Government (LLG).

Additionally, the Programme facilitated sessions on Business Management, covering key skills like Record Keeping, Cash Flow Projection, Budgeting, and Savings, equipping participants with tools for managing and growing their agribusinesses.

During his visit, the Programme Coordinator met with district officials, to discuss EU-STREIT PNG's ongoing support including the rehabilitation of two farm-to-market roads, establishment of digital banking services, and creation of a Resource Centre at Nuku St. Francis Secondary School—a digital hub. This digital hub is meant to  equip farmers and agripreneurs with skills and resources needed to enhance productivity, and expand market reach, driving sustainable agribusiness development. 

The visit concluded with an on-site assessment of a cocoa nursery and budwood garden established by the Sultongo Business Group as well as the road rehabilitation site at the Maimai wanwan road. Acknowledging the resiliency of the female members who, inspired by previous mentorship initiatives, took the initiative to establish two fishponds, Mr. Yesuf highlighted the positive impact of the Programme’s support in promoting local agribusiness and community-driven projects.

The event and associated activities reaffirmed the EU-STREIT PNG Programme’s commitment to empowering rural women and fostering community-driven agricultural development for a sustainable future.

About the EU-STREIT PNG Programme 

The EU-STREIT PNG Programme, implemented as a United Nations Joint Programme by FAO, ILO, ITU, UNCDF, and UNDP, is the European Union's largest grant-funded initiative in Papua New Guinea. The Programme is dedicated to promoting sustainable and inclusive economic development in rural areas, focusing on building resilient communities through enhanced agricultural productivity and value chain support. This is achieved by FAO’s support in enhancing economic returns and opportunities within cocoa, vanilla, and fisheries value chains. Additionally, the Programme strengthens and improves the efficiency of value chain enablers, including access to ICT by ITU and digital financial services by UNCDF. ILO also supports the development of sustainable, climate-resilient roads and other transport infrastructures while UNDP provides renewable energy solutions. The Programme benefits two provinces: East Sepik and West Sepik.