Australia funds new resource centre for Central women farmers

Central Governor Kila Haoda(far right), SPSN's Sabi Pati and Society President Nellie Bolla cutting the ribbons to officially open the building.

 AUSTRALIA is helping open doors to increased revenue generating opportunities for 500 rural women farmers from Rigo in the Central Province, with the opening of a new community resource centre on March 21, 2014.

The Australian Government, through its Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen program’s small grant community development scheme, provided K79,400 to the Rigo Women in Agriculture Cooperative Society for the development of this building and for various agricultural training.

The new building is the pride and joy of women from the three Local Level Government areas of Rigo Coast Rural, Rigo Central and Rigo Inland Rural.

The resource centre located on Kokebagu farm just 15 minutes from the Kwikila station, will also house an office for the group.

President of the society Nellie Bola is grateful for the centre, which she said will bring many benefits and provide a communal meeting and training place for society members and the communities.

Mrs Bola is also equally pleased with the intervention of the Central Provincial Government who is providing a new market truck through the office of Rigo MP, Hon Ano Pala and Central Governor Kila Haoda. This truck will make transportation of their produce to the markets easy. The Central Province Agriculture Department is providing training and technical support to the women farmers.

“The society wants to empower and increase women farmers’ participation in agricultural based economic activities in the district so they can be able to contribute to the upkeep of their families’ welfare. This resource centre also gives us a home and sense of belonging and it represents our determination to work even harder,” said Mrs Bola

The group demonstrated their commitment by making a 10 percent contribution of K5,490 towards the construction of the building.

SPSN Field Program Coordinator Sabi Pati applauded the women’s efforts toward the successful completion of the building.

“This funding has come because Australia has heard your need for a revenue generation opportunity for your community. We hope that this project will benefit as many people as possible and that you as a community will find ways to sustain it to see it prosper,” said Mr Pati