The Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Papua New Guinea has signed a memorandum of understanding with Bumayong Lutheran Secondary School (BLSS) in Morobe Province for a Smallholder Mechanization Empowerment Project.
TTM PNG leader Chinyu Lee, BLSS Board of Governors chairman Bernard Maladina, and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG) General Secretary Bernard Kaisom signed the official document, strengthening the working partnership at Bumayong Lutheran Secondary School on February 25, 2026.
School Board of Governors chairman Bernard Maladina said the signing is very important for Bumayong as it complements the school’s self-reliance policy and school garden project, which was launched in 2024 by the National Department of Education.
He said BLSS is the first school in the country to partner with the Taiwan government, and the school is pleased to be the implementing partner while utilizing the land it has available.
“This is an ambitious project because it will benefit the school in terms of student learning, teachers’ capacity building, exchange programs, and surrounding communities by improving farming activities.
“TTM PNG is supporting this project with technical expertise to ensure it is successful, so I encourage teachers and students to make strong commitments,” Mr Maladina added.
TTM PNG leader Chinyu Lee said the partnership began after Mr Maladina visited their office at Bubia (NARI compound) in Lae on July 15, 2024.
Mr Lee said the visit was mainly to request cooperation between BLSS and TTM to develop the school’s garden and agricultural training activities.
The project activities will include:
- Establishing and operating a 3-hectare campus farm;
- Providing on-campus farming services by trained students;
- Conducting monthly agricultural machinery promotion activities for teachers and students;
- Providing campus farm advisory services, agricultural machinery training, and technical support;
- Assisting BLSS in the development of the Lae campus farm, targeting an annual income of K100,000 before the end of the project, in line with the national education policy and to increase school revenue;
- Preparing a Campus Farm Operation Plan for BLSS;
- Compiling a technical manual on machinery maintenance;
- Training students and farmer groups in production and sales management six times a year, with a target of 300 people trained throughout the project;
- Conducting two demonstration and exhibition events at the campus farm.
School principal Philips said they are pleased with the partnership and that the school will provide the necessary support and ensure a conducive working environment for both parties so the project can commence smoothly.
Mr Philips said the Agriculture Department at the school will take the lead in the project, which will also benefit other departments through practical learning opportunities.
ELCPNG General Secretary Bernard Kaisom welcomed the project, stating that the land belongs to the church and that the church will provide support where necessary to ensure its successful implementation.
Mr Kaisom said the project will enhance students’ learning both theoretically and practically, and it also has the potential to expand to other church agency schools if the pilot project at Bumayong proves successful.
The Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) is a development cooperation program of the Government of Taiwan that provides technical assistance, particularly in agriculture, mechanization, and rural development. In Papua New Guinea, TTM works closely with institutions such as the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) in Lae to promote modern farming techniques and improve food production. The mission supports training, demonstration farms, and technology transfer to help strengthen agricultural capacity and food security in the country.
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