The Highlands Farmers and Settlers Association is now preparing to carry out poultry and farming awareness and training in the Lower Asaro , in Daulo, Eastern Highlands Province. The training will kick off today. President for Highlands Framers and Settlers Association in PNG, Mr Wilson Thompson said the association has identified 40 farmers in wards 5, 6 and 7 from lower Asaro who will be participating in this trainings. Mr Thomson stated that these trainings and awareness will be based on the practical side of farming. “These trainings will be more practical, we will have a day or half the day on awareness and basic introductions and guidance to poultry, bee, vanilla, coffee and spices farming and arts and crafts and the rest will be practical, on the field training.” Mr Thompson further stated that the farmers who have started their own projects will be given support and technical skills step by step. “These trainings will see technical support from Department of Agriculture and Livestock, NAQIA, DPAI and Highlands Framers and Settlers Associations.” “Often time farmers see or hear others do something and they try it out themselves without proper knowledge on how to really take care of their farming project, and this is where we come in now.” Thompson added they have done this kind of projects since 2020 and have helped farmers in the Central Province, Ramu, Jiwaka, Chimbu and now Eastern Highlands Province, here in Daulo. “We are basically just doing community empowerment and engagement programs to encourage, inform and guide farmers to achieve market goals.” “We will be teaching farmers how to grow their produce or poultry, when and how to feed, identify pest or disease and all basic facts on how to do farming correctly.” This is for the start in Daulo and we are look to expand to all parts of Goroka after we finish here in Daulo. “We are running such same training at Karuvu High school for the people of Okapa, and will visit Henganofi, Lufa, Kainantu and further down to Yonki also.” Thompson also highlighted that all poultry farmers who are interested and have been asking to be part of such training, you chance will come next month. “July 15th, the Poultry Association in Goroka will be hosting one of its biggest training and awareness program in Goroka and interested Farmers who want to be part of it can state your interest through the WhatsApp group go see Mr Jonah Buka at the Goroka DAL office to register.”