Trukai Industry launches its three (3) months Internship Program this year 2025 under the Trukai Industries Smart Farmer Program (SFP) at the Pacific Adventist University today Tuesday November 5th. The launching was initiated during the 2024 Smart Farmer Program graduation which also acknowledged Eight (8 awardees out of Twenty-four (24) graduates to undergo the internship program from Lae University of Technology (UOT) and Pacific Adventist University in Port Moresby. Eight graduates today were awarded the internship program while studying in PAU, while 14 will be selected soon from the UOT. These farmers have been identified as prime farmers and fulfilled certain categories such as SFP 2-weeks training and 18 weeks of practical experience, Certified in Irrigated Rice Farming and growing rice to one hectare through community collaboration or individual efforts. The prime farmers will be employed for 3 months with accommodation and exposure to commercial farming equipment and production. Prime farmers will be challenged on their performance during the internship, working with Trukai’s commercial farming team and learn about land and crop preparation, preparation and management, including seed and harvest management. Trukai Industries Agriculture Manager Diana Aina emphasized the purpose of the program to inspire Farmers to invest in commercial rice farming and create a source of income through agriculture. Trukai Industries Chief Executive Officer Alan Preston address the overall intent of the Internship program under the SFP is to prepare local farmers to transform from subsistence farmers to semi-commercial Farmers. Furthermore Mr. Preston concluded that their Agriculture team have done tremendous work for the SFP into the internship program, and that Papua New Guinea must now learn to farm and harvest this staple food. The internship will be undertaken at Trukai’s Industries farm at Erap, Morobe Province where a quarterly intake of 6 farmers will undergo these 3 months programs.