EAST NEW BRITAIN WOMEN & YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES ASSOCIATION (ENBWYiACSA)
Identifying a need...
The woman is the house keeper, the cook, the sewer, the child bearer, the collector, the gardener, the farmer, and the seller, all day every day with very little reward. In 2006, female agricultural officers from National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) LAES, East New Britain Department of Primary Industry (ENB DPI), and PNG Cocoa and Coconut Institute (CCI) saw an opportunity to drive the formation of East New Britain Women and Youth in Agriculture (ENBWYiA). With the objective in mind to empower women within the Agricultural industry, this Non-Government-Organisation has built a strong network of women (and youth) farmers who share and discuss skills, information, trainings, and market opportunities, building confidence amongst the woman. The abilities of the women are encouraged throughout the Association preparing them for the introduction of applying business principles throughout the cooperatives promoting the women from subsistence to commercial farmers.
In August 2010, ENBWYiA was officially registered as a Cooperative Societies Association (ENBWYiACSA) with the Division of Commerce and Industry Investment Promotion Authority receiving a certificate of Affiliation. Supported by 5 stakeholders including NARI Keravat, PNG CCI (Tavilo), UNRE Vudal, DPI (District Level), and Division of Commerce and Industry, ENBWYiCSA has grown from 8 cooperative societies affiliating in 2010 to 30 society members comprising of more than 1000 women and their families today. Working together with a New Zealand volunteer a 5 year strategic plan was developed to guide the woman members to reach the Associations vision of seeing all the cooperative societies engage business principles to become small business owners of their agriculture commodities. To become business women.
Enabling the woman to be more business minded will increase food availability and income earning opportunities. This will improve the livelihoods of members and their families, and the social, economic, and cultural development within communities especially in the Agricultural sector. Over time creating a positive impact on changing the current mindset to one of acknowledging and rewarding what we woman do.
ENBWYiACSA Logo Definition
The House represents Family or Household.
The roll of shell money is the traditional and local currency of ENB.
The two open hands represent women working cooperatively.
The Taro plant in between the two hands represents agriculture, crops and livestock.
The Green, Brown and Blue represents plants, soil, and sea.
