Three wise farmers off to China

By Diedre Fanene 03 April 2016, 12:00AM

Three farmers from the Samoa Farmers Association are off to China to learn about new Tropical Agriculture technology for three weeks.

Moi Iulai Leatuau, Fualaau Iakopo and Kalifa Finau will be training at the Hainan Province in China at the Chinese Academy of Tropical Science (C.A.T.A.S).

On Friday, the Chairman of the Samoa Farmers Association, Afamasaga Fa’amatala Toleafoa and some members of the Executive Board, Lemalu Amy Chan Mow and Ifopo Filisi together with the three farmers visited the Ambassador of China, Wang Xuefeng, to talk about their trip.

The Ambassador encouraged the three farmers to learn as much as they can from the training so that when they return they will be able to teach other farmers in Samoa.

 “Each year, the Chinese government provides more than 200 opportunities for our Samoan friends in different sectors such as Agriculture, Computer Studies for administrative governments,” he said.

“This is a good opportunity as well for Samoan people to see the reality in China, to understand what is happening in China and to feel our friendship in China and so when you get back, we will sit together again and discuss your experience and what you learnt from the training.”

In China, the Ambassador assured that the lessons would be very useful.

 “You will learn about production technology of tropical vegetable, coconut production and processing technology, cassava cultivation and utilization technology, plant tissue culture and rapid propagation technology.

“You will also learn about agricultural products processing technology, prevention and control technology of tropical crops disease and pests, agricultural biotechnology, quality and safety technology and detection of tropical agricultural products.”

He went on to say that this is not the first time China has done this project. Last year, they sent some 90 farmers for the same training.

“Agriculture is one of the most important industries in Samoa so it’s important to improve the agriculture technology and also the technology of processing the products of agriculture like the tropical fruits and the crops.

“Later on the year, we will send more because in my heart I know agriculture is the most important industry of Samoa. It is the pillar of this country.”

According to a release given by the Embassy, the three farmers will also have the opportunity to visit Lingshui modern agricultural demonstration garden, plant tissue processing factory, high yield cassava base in Hainan Province.

The aim of the training is to help the farmers with more comprehensive understanding of China’s tropical agricultural industry development and production experience to strengthen the exchanges and cooperation between China and Samoa.

They will exchange key issues of tropical agricultural industry development with Chinese experts and participants from other countries.

They will also have the opportunity to introduce the agricultural industry development in Samoa.

The seminar is a part of training scheme provided to Samoa and other developing countries by Chinese government for a long term and all the cost in the training covered by Chinese Government.

By Diedre Fanene 03 April 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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