WTTAI pilots sustainable food security and economic empowerment in Rigo

The Walk The Talk Association [WTTAI] has reinforced its commitment to promoting sustainable food security and economic empowerment following a successful community engagement program in Rigo District, Central Province.

The visit brought together community leaders, church representatives, women’s groups, youth and families from Imairu, Magautou and Lebogoro villages in Rigo East to discuss the practical introduction of rice cultivation as a pathway toward improving household food supply and generating income at the village level.

Delivering the keynote address, WTTAI founder and president Vera Raga emphasized the importance of empowering rural communities to take ownership of their food production systems.

Raga expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded to the WTTAI team and reaffirmed the association’s long-term vision of promoting community-driven development initiatives that empower families to build sustainable livelihoods.

He highlighted the growing national rice import bill, estimated at over K1.3 billion annually, and stressed the urgent need to increase domestic rice production so that more money remains circulating within local communities rather than flowing overseas.

Raga further pointed to Papua New Guinea’s current employment realities, noting that only approximately 10 percent of PNGs population is in the formal sector workforce while the remaining 90 percent depend largely on subsistence living and informal economic activities.

With rice being one of the most preferred and convenient staple foods in daily diets despite its increasing price, he warned that continued reliance on imported rice will eventually place greater financial pressure on wage earners who often support extended families in rural areas.

He explained that rice cultivation on customary land is achievable, provided land ownership matters are properly addressed. He encouraged families to prioritise rice growing for household consumption first before considering surplus sales for income generation.

WTTAI Executive Member Vou Kema, a former Ward Member for Riwali’rubu, shared his personal testimony of cultivating rice over a four-month period. From a manually prepared 30m x 80m plot, he successfully harvested 20 x 10kg bags of milled rice, demonstrating that rice farming is both practical and achievable under village conditions.

A sample of his harvested rice was presented to the community as tangible evidence of local capability.
Due to strong public interest, WTTAI officials also conducted a brief demonstration on seed selection using the “Floatation Method,” encouraging villagers to begin small trial plantings while awaiting a comprehensive training program to be delivered in the near future.

Community leaders welcomed the initiative and expressed interest in further technical collaboration with WTTAI. Issues raised during discussions included infrastructure development, market access, youth skills training, school facilities, and broader community development priorities.

WTTAI Vice President Fredrick Mio Kila, a construction engineer from Gidobada in Rigo, reaffirmed that the association is a multi-skilled and multidisciplinary organization committed to supporting rural communities in achieving sustainable livelihoods.

He emphasized that WTTAI’s approach extends beyond agriculture to include technical support in areas such as engineering, water supply, health awareness, and community capacity building.

The program concluded with the distribution of rice seeds to interested participants and refreshment provided to approximately 200 attendees.

WTTAI remains committed to working alongside rural communities to promote practical , community - driven solutions that enhance food security, strengthen families and builds economic resilience villages.