Next Generation News
The PNG Understanding and Assistance Mission, November 2009
Education is closely linked to agriculture, whether it’s latest research or lifting small farmers out of poverty. That’s fundamental to the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth, (RASC), a network of agricultural show societies across the Commonwealth. For years young sponsored delegates at our biennial Commonwealth Agricultural Conferences have returned home to become energetic ‘catalysts for change ‘.
John Bennett says:
"It gives me great pleasure to commend the following daily journal to you as the report of the 2009
RASC Next Generation Understanding and Assistance Mission to Papua New Guinea.
10 Next Generation representatives from 6 Commonwealth Countries participated in the Mission.
Some were entirely self-funded and some were assisted to varying degrees. Each participant took
their turn as group leader where amongst other responsibilities they were to write an account of
what they had seen, learned and contributed, the result being the pages that follow.
The title of the undertaking “Understanding and Assistance” has been carefully chosen to reflect
accurately the RASC objectives in organising it. It is a wonderful opportunity for eager young
agricultural minds to gain an unforgettable insight into another country, at the same time making a
contribution by offering assistance and sharing their knowledge where it is useful.
The RASC membership network provides a priceless opportunity for interaction between
agriculturalists at a grass roots level. The assistance of the Morobe Province Agricultural Society
and in particular Mike and Karen Quinn was paramount to the success of the trip and allowed our
group to see and experience PNG in a way which would ordinarily never be possible.
A substantial part of the mission involved a close association with PNG’s National Agricultural
Research Institute. Next Generation member and NARI Scientist Michael Dom arranged a perfectly
planned program of activities that tied in with our objectives. NARI’s enthusiasm for the mission
and generous support added significantly to the experience. We look forward to a continued close
association between NARI and the RASC as one of the important outcomes of our time in PNG.
It was a great shame, though completely understandable that the 2009 Morobe Show was cancelled
two days prior to our departure owing to an outbreak of cholera. Our original itinerary included a
substantial amount of time involved with staging the show. It is to the great credit of the NG group
that they did not let this last minute disappointment detract from their enthusiasm. With further
support from the Show Society who had already moved mountains preparing for our productive
involvement at the show, our itinerary was efficiently redesigned and our entire time was
worthwhile, productive and rewarding as I think the diary entries show.
This Mission built solidly on what was started with the first RASC NG Mission to Zambia in 2007.
I feel more passionately than ever that these missions fit perfectly with the broader RASC
objectives and that they will go from strength to strength as the concept gathers further momentum
within the RASC membership.
Click here to view the full PNG Diaries