January 2017
The Papua New Guinea Women in Agriculture Development Foundation (PNG WiA) with support from the EU funded Pacific Community (SPC) Pacific Agriculture Policy Project (PAPP) has launched a new website (www.pngwia.org) through its partnership funding support to PIFON (Pacific Islands Farmers Organisation Network)
President Maria Linibi said it was a milestone achievement for PNG women in agriculture after 10 years as a non-government organisation. The national body has over 10,000 women registered as members making it the largest farming network for women in the South Pacific.
PNG WIA is a member of the regional umbrella network for Pacific National Farming Organisations (NFOs) – the “Pacific Island Farmers Organisation Network” (PIFON) — which provides valuable support to NFOs through capacity building, farmer exchanges and extension services. PIFON currently represents over 73,000 farmers from the region through 236 FOs in over 7 countries.
The website has been customized, integrated and linked to relevant communication platforms and social networking spaces for greater online presence and interaction in an effort to promote its work plans, aspirations and achievements etc. with the 22 provinces that it services. This should raise the profile of the FO and of women in agriculture in PNG generally.
Mrs Linibi thanked Trukai Industries Ltd and the National Agricultural Research Institute, (NARI) who launched the website, and PIFON for its funding from its EU funded SPC PAPP Program for supporting PNG WiA.