Wintec partners with University of South Pacific in Samoa for Horticulture programme

Tuesday, 12 July 2022

The launch of the new horticulture programme brought together the first cohort of learners, along with USP tutors Michael Sefilino and Kennedy Enefatu, Sosefina Tualaulelei from KVA Consulting, Saleimoa Vaai owner of Savai'i Koko, parents and Chiefs from the district, as well as Wintec staff Annaleigh Corlett, Duggie Melsom and Barbara King, dialing in remotely.

Wintec has launched a 12-week youth horticulture training in Samoa, partnering with the School of Agriculture at the University of South Pacific Samoa.

The Applied Entrepreneurial Horticulture and Food programme aims to get more youth attracted to working in horticulture and equip them to participate in the cocoa and food industries into the future. The launch event for the first delivery of the course took place on Monday at Savai’i Koko where the training is being held.

The programme is part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) funded ‘Improved livelihoods through increased protection of the Premium Cocoa Value Chain’ project, supporting local farmers to create a continuous supply of the Samoan koko beans to New Zealand to make wonderful chocolates everybody loves.

If you’d like to sample some of the excellent products produced by farmers involved in the Value Chain project, several will be participating in the Pacific Cacao and Chocolate show held in Auckland next week. https://www.pacificcacao.org.nz/