ELTOS get familiar with NZ agricultural training
Avonechit Vongsipasom checks inside the ‘cow’ for the calf’s birth position
Checking inside a simulated cow to see if its calf was in the right position for birth is not an everyday part of the ELTO study programme but Avonechit Vongsipasom from Laos was ready for the challenge.
This activity was just one of many processes , both low- tech and high-tech, that ELTO participants got to experience in a recent two –day visit to Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre in the Wairarapa.
More than half the 48 officials, who are in New Zealand to study English, are from ministries relating to agriculture, so they were soaking up every bit of information they could.
“We had a lecture on calving and learnt a lot about the calving process, said Munkhjargal Nergui from Mongolia. “It was very interesting to know that a pregnant cow is scanned like a human.”
As well as the calving simulator they were impressed with the process of scattering fertiliser using a helicopter, milk and cheese production from sheep and cows, irrigation, maize harvesting, soil management, financing farms, and sheep dog skills.
The use of technology in farming in New Zealand was highly interesting for all the participants although perhaps not something they can put into practice yet in their countries. They are from Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Timor Leste and Vietnam.
“In terms of dairy farming, there is a huge difference between Mongolia and New Zealand,” said Munkhjargal, “New Zealand has developed a dairy industry as a business with high productivity and competitiveness, while Mongolia is still doing it with traditional methods mainly for family consumption. I was very impressed with the technological developments, in particular the rotary dairy shed which is a huge construction.
Traditionally, farming is a family business which is passed on by parents to their children in many countries. Children learn from their parents how to plant crops and how to breed livestock. But it is a huge source of knowledge being kept by elders. I have never thought that there would a school for farmers. So I was really impressed with the Taratahi agricultural education centre where students learn farming.
Phonepachanh Keovilay from Laos, was also particularly interested in the training aspects. “It is very important to develop agriculture for the future. At Taratahi, the trainees study theory and practice. The teachers have a lot of experience working on farms. They research and test many new technologies for crops and animals. “
“They warmly welcomed and shared a lot of knowledge,” said Khyne Lynn Khyne from Myanmar.
“ I learned how to maintain cows and sheep. I also learned how to produce milk step by step. As well I learned about irrigation systems. They are using technology in every sector. I envy New Zealand’s technology system. I wish deeply for my country to become like New Zealand. I want to buy that big machine for our farmers which showers many fields automatically. Our farmers are passing their lives in difficult conditions. I joked to our Myanmar friends, ‘we will save our money and we will buy that big machine for our farmers.’ Nobody agreed with me. They said it is impossible. Yes, they are right it is impossible. Nobody knows but one day my dream will come true. Now we are going forward and I hope one day we can improve our beloved farmers’ lives.”
