UNRE signs MoU with New Ireland's Nimamar LLG for farmer training

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Prof. Warren (fourth from left) and Mr Silul (third from left) with staff from the University and Nimamar LLG officers after the signing.
PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nimamar Local Level Government of Lihir to implement farmer training at the cost of K2.7 million.
The signing took place this afternoon at Kokopo Village Resort in Kokopo by University Vice Chancellor Professor John Warren and Ambrose Silul, President of Nimamar LLG and Deputy Governor of New Ireland.  
The MOU is specifically for the University’s farmer training centre, Kairak Vudal Resource Training Centre (KVRTC), to implement its Integrated Agricultural Training Program (IATP).
The first MOU was signed in 2006 for five years, but only lasted for three years.
This second MOU is for the next five years, until 2022.
Vice Chancellor Professor Warren acknowledged the hard work done by the LLG and the KVRTC team led by Manager Hosea Turbarat to prepare the MOU.
He said Lihir shares similar experiences like other development stories in that exploitation of resources are unsustainable.
He said at the end we then think we have forgotten how to look after our earth, we have forgotten our custodianship and we have also forgotten to feed ourselves.
Professor Warren said while we can’t stop progress/development, the resources are there for us to use, but we must use them in sensible ways.
He said these resources  are used in technology, for instance he said gold is important in mobile phones, computers and  they allow us to drive the modern world forward and give us all sort of things that we haven’t even dream of.
“But we need to realise at the end of that day once we’ve taken these resources we’ve need to put things back and in Science the term used is Restoration Ecology,” said the VC.
He said the MOU is clearly an example of this but it is Restoration Ecology of the social side.
Meanwhile, Mr Silul said on Lihir Island alone they have been faced with unemployed youth problems in communities since 1995 (when the mine started) and increasing population not only within the mining town area but in all their village communities around the island.
He said the MOU will foster and achieve sustainable economic development through the IATP concepts by enhancing rural household have access to vital and appropriate information and resources support to promote and improve sustainable livelihood now and after mine closure.
“My Government shall ensure that budgetary funding annually is made available to this program to train men, women, youth and families to be equipped and resourceful Lihirian farmers now and beyond the next generation,” said Mr Silul.

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