Learning in the Field, Cultivating the Future　

In July 2025, ten agricultural science students and teacher from Iarowari Agro Technical Secondary School in Sogeri, Central Province, visited the Taiwan Technical Mission, located in the outskirts of Port Moresby. The students took part in a hands-on practicum that involved post-harvest processes such as rice harvesting, threshing, and milling.

This activity was made possible through a connection established during a visit by Iarowari Agro Technical Secondary School agricultural staff to the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI). There, they encountered Taiwanese agricultural experts who proposed the idea of conducting a rice farming practicum. Mr. Kento Suzuki, a JICA Volunteer, coordinated the arrangements for the event.

With support from the Taiwanese experts, the students received explanations about agricultural machinery including push-type cultivators, threshers, and rice mills. They also participated in hands-on activities such as harvesting rice in the field, experiencing both manual and mechanical threshing, learning seed storage methods, and practicing direct seeding of paddy rice.

Mr. Suzuki commented, “Before the end of my assignment, I wanted to help create an environment where students can continue learning through practical experience.” The students actively engaged in all aspects of the practicum, including cooperative sowing activities, and gained valuable insights into real-world farming practices.

The practicum also served as a learning opportunity for the school’s teachers. After the event, they used JICA’s Upland Rice Handbook to review differences in growth conditions and soil preparation and began considering how to apply these lessons in their regular classes.

Looking ahead, Mr. Suzuki shared his hopes: “If the school continues engaging in agricultural practicum including rice farming, I believe these kinds of field-based learning experiences can become even more meaningful and impactful.” He expressed his expectations for the continued collaboration and expansion of practical agricultural education.