MANILA, Philippines — Amid a rice shortage the country is facing, the Philippines sent 19 farm technicians to Papua New Guinea to train local farmers under a rice cooperation agreement between the two countries. Papua New Guinea imports around 98 percent of the nearly 400,000 kilos of rice the country consumes each year. The Philippines and Papua New Guinea held a successful groundbreaking of a 25-hectare rice demonstration farm on the grounds of the Pacific Adventist University (PAU) on Aug. 24. The research of appropriate rice varieties for Papua New Guinea and the training of local farmers are intended to start larger scale projects and investments. It is being readied for showcase during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Port Moresby in November 2018.

Source: Philippine Star September 12, 2018 15:56 UTC