The two weeks training starts on June 10, along with a design model bio-gas plant as a practical approach.

Stakeholders involved include Secretariat to the Pacific Community (SPC) and GIZ, US Aid, Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock.

TTM Livestock specialist, Donald Wang said the training is conducted to equip those involve in the project to help them transfer that knowledge to the local farmers.

He said it is a simple designed model that uses pig manure to produce that gas for cooking and the waste water for plant fertilizer.

“Using pig wastes are cheaper and affordable, something worth to produce cooking gas and fertilizer for plants at the same time,” he said.

He explained that the biogas plant model is designed to suit rural setting and is a good significant local material.

SPC/GIZ Development Advisor Daniel Farkas said such a technical expertise provided for by the Taiwan Technical Mission is indeed essential to the integrated climate change programme in Choiseul.

“It helps reduce carbon emission with involvement of local knowledge and a reliable but sustainable form of energy,” Mr Farkas said.

“More so it is one form of improving waste management system, something that usually lacking in many rural communities,” he added.    

GIZ Project-Land base Technist Davis Regal Alele said whilst helping on the carbon reduction, that mindset of having good sanitation and a better livelihood through proper waste management is another aspect to this biogas plant.

He said the approach is new and the challenges are there.

One foremost challenge is the technical side of it, on which Taiwan Technical Mission avail to train and help design a simple and low cost but effective biogas plant model, Mr Alele said.

Ministry of Agriculture’s chief field officer Willie Tuita said the new approach is a way forward for local farmers.

He said the ministry is grateful to be part of such initiative and is keen to see the successes of it under the Choiseul Integrated Climate Change work program.

Joining the training are also farmers from Choiseul province who will be directly involve in the initial roll out of the designed biogas plant including agriculture extension officers.

By BRADFORD THEONOMI