The Bougainville Organic Sustainable Services Inc. (BOSSI) proudly congratulates 22 cooperatives and 48 participants who have successfully completed the Financial Literacy and Farming as a Business training held at the Women’s Innovation Hub in Toniva from 4 to 7 November 2025.
The four-day program equipped participants with practical knowledge and essential skills in budgeting, cash flow management and business planning – empowering them to strengthen their cooperative enterprises and make informed financial decisions.
The training was strategically delivered to complement BOSSI’s recent investment in a solar-powered cold room, which is expected to significantly improve post-harvest handling and value addition for farmers in Central Bougainville. The facility will help reduce produce spoilage, extend the shelf life of fresh crops and increase incomes by ensuring better quality and consistent market supply. By using renewable solar energy, the cold room also promotes climate-resilient and sustainable farming practices across the region.
The training was sponsored by Pacific Trade Invest New Zealand, facilitated by Agbook Agribusiness Training and Advisory Ltd, and conducted in partnership with BOSSI. The initiative represents a strong partnership to promote financial literacy, agribusiness development and inclusive economic empowerment among Bougainville’s farming communities.
Representing Dew Cooperative, Mr. Chris Korokoro commended the program, describing it as “essential for farmers to understand the importance of seeing value in any agribusiness, especially in managing their cash flows to grow their farming business.” He also appealed for similar training to be extended to other cooperative members to help sustain their economic activities.
Ms. Nicole Isifu, Facilitator and Director of Agbook Agribusiness Training and Advisory Ltd, congratulated BOSSI and all participants for their commitment throughout the program. She said the training highlighted the vital role of women and young people in transforming agriculture from subsistence gardening into small, profitable enterprises.
“When women and youth are given the right skills and knowledge, they become the driving force of innovation and change in the agriculture sector,” Ms. Isifu said. “This program demonstrates how education, collaboration and practical tools can help farming families move beyond survival and begin building sustainable agribusinesses.”
Ms. Geraldine Paul, Committee Secretary of BOSSI, expressed gratitude to the New Zealand Government for sponsoring the training through Agbook and thanked Ms. Isifu for delivering practical and insightful lessons to the farmers.
Ms. Paul also announced that ten cooperatives will be selected by BOSSI to participate in a six-month Agri-Business Mentoring Program, jointly implemented by Agbook and BOSSI. The program will ensure that the knowledge and skills gained during the training are effectively applied to strengthen cooperative enterprises and support long-term business growth.
Bougainville Organic Sustainable Services Inc. (BOSSI) is a newly established non-government organisation dedicated to empowering women’s cooperatives in Central Bougainville. Its mission is to build capacity, improve market access and ensure that no woman is left behind. The training and the establishment of the solar cold room mark the beginning of greater economic opportunities for women in Central Bougainville, paving the way for inclusive, sustainable and climate-smart growth in the region.