SMART FARMER TRAINEE PLANS TO SHARE SKILLS WITH COMMUNITY

For Carolyn Solomon, who is among one of twenty fourth-year science students from the Pacific Adventist University (PAU), the Trukai Industries’ SMART FARMER Program is more than just a training course because it is a lifeline for the future of her family and her village.

Carolyn is among 93 participants in the country for this program’s fourth batch at PAU.

The 20-week irrigated rice farming program combines two weeks of classroom theory with 18 weeks of practical training in participants’ own communities.

“After graduating from the SMART FARMER Program, I will go back to my community and teach my family and fellow villagers what I have learned.”

“This training will help us not just grow rice for our own consumption but also generate income.”

As a biological science major, Carolyn said the program compliments her academic studies while providing practical agricultural skills that are often not covered in a classroom setting.

“These days, even with a degree, most people struggle to find jobs.”

“So, for me, this training is very important. If I do not find employment straight away, I will still be able to grow rice, not just to feed my family, but to earn a living.”

Additionally, Carolyn’s perspective reflects a growing mindset among Papua New Guinea’s youth and that practical, skills-based training is just as important as formal education in building sustainable livelihoods.

The SMART FARMER Program is designed to provide participants with a foundation in rice cultivation, irrigation systems, crop management, and farm business planning.

For final-year students like Carolyn, the program also serves as a practicum requirement.

But for Carolyn, the goal isn’t just personal success.

“I want to be a changemaker in my community.”

“With what I have learnt, I can help others see farming as a real opportunity and would not be just something we do to survive, but something we can grow from.”

With more graduates like Carolyn ready to return home and share their skills, Trukai’s SMART FARMER Program is doing more than training individuals, it is planting seeds for long-term transformation in rural communities across PNG.