Grow PNG Hosts the First Stakeholder Consultation Dialogue on Waba ‘Ani Partnership Program(WAPP)

Grow PNG has reached a significant milestone with its first stakeholder consultation dialogue for the Waba 'Ani Agri Partnership Program (WAPP). Held on January 30, 2025, the event brought together over 30 stakeholders, including representatives from agribusinesses, government agencies, development partners, research institutions, farmer groups, and women leaders. The consultation provided a platform for exchanging insights and shaping the program’s content.

“Waba ‘Ani, meaning Welcome in the local Markham dialect, symbolizes landowners' readiness to embrace investment opportunities through structured training…”

The name Waba ‘Ani, meaning "welcome" in the Markham language, reflects landowners’ openness to agricultural investment. This initiative builds on Grow PNG’s Land Access Guide Training Program, strengthening efforts to prepare formally organized landowner groups for strategic agricultural partnerships.

Grow PNG has identified key challenges to investment and economic growth in the Markham Valley, including limited understanding of business partnerships, investor hesitancy, and land conflicts. Many landowners lack the knowledge to establish sustainable partnerships, leading to disruptions in operations, while agribusinesses remain cautious about engaging with smallholder farmers due to these uncertainties.

To bridge these gaps, Grow PNG is collaborating with the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNGUoT) to develop a Training of Trainers (ToT) program. The program content will cover essential topics such as farming as a business, regulatory frameworks, land tenure systems, gender mainstreaming in agribusiness, and climate change adaptation. PNGUoT will lead content development and pilot the first ToT session with Markham District DA Officers and selected District and LLG representatives. These trainers will then deliver the program to landowner and farming groups, with

potential expansion beyond the Markham Valley.

During the consultation, Grow PNG’s Country Program Manager, Ruthy Kusak highlighted WAPP’s origins, explaining that the program emerged from discussions within the Gender Working Group and other forums addressing financial and investment challenges faced by smallholder farmers. Developed in collaboration with PNGUoT, WAPP aims to equip landowners, cooperatives, business groups, and Incorporated Land Groups (ILGs) with the necessary skills for land access, business partnerships, financial management, and gender inclusion.

Dr. Orake from PNGUoT outlined the WAPP training structure, which integrates expertise from three university schools. The School of Agriculture and Science will focus on farming as a business, resource planning, and bookkeeping. The School of Communication & Development Studies will cover development practices, conflict resolution, and project management, while the School of Surveying & Land Studies will provide insights into land tenure, administration, and registration. The three-week training, held during PNGUoT’s semester break, will include hands-on workshops and monitoring mechanisms to assess its effectiveness. Participants will receive an Attainment Certificate upon completion, recognizing their competency in investment partnerships and agribusiness development.

Looking ahead, Grow PNG plans to host two more stakeholder consultations before officially launching WAPP in May 2025. This initiative marks a critical step toward fostering sustainable agricultural partnerships and economic growth in the Markham and Ramu Corridor. Grow PNG extends its gratitude to all partners for their continued support.