STORY: China's Juncao technology helps PNG people improve livelihood: former official
SHOOTING TIME: June 16, 2024
DATELINE: June 18, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:45
LOCATION: FUZHOU, China
CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the meeting
2. various of Juncao
3. SOUNDBITE (English): PETI LAFANAMA, Former governor of Papua New Guinea's Eastern Highlands Province

STORYLINE:

The 19th International Conference on Juncao Industry Development was held in Fuzhou, east China's Fujian Province on Sunday.

Over 71 representatives from 19 countries and regions and more than 200 Chinese experts, scholars, and business representatives attended the meeting.

Juncao, which in Chinese literally means "mushroom" and "grass," can be used to grow edible and medicinal mushrooms, as livestock feed or as a green barrier to control soil erosion.

Having taken root in over 100 countries and regions, Juncao has been hailed by the locals as "the grass of happiness."

SOUNDBITE (English): PETI LAFANAMA, Former governor of Papua New Guinea's Eastern Highlands Province
"I was met by a Chinese expert team from the Fujian Province. They were already doing some research in my province. When I got into politics, they visited my residence, and they introduced me to that. I was very excited about it because as a young and new leader, I was looking for ideas to try and see how we can improve people's lives. So I immediately got interested in the idea that maybe this is something that has got a lot of potential. I'm very happy with the Chinese government and Fujian Province's technical support, (as well as) the FAFU (Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University). Because the sister province agreement and the technical support agreement are still existing, we are continuing to benefit from the technical support and machinery. And our people, over the years, a lot of people have got trained, and people are now becoming very skilled in growing mushrooms using the Juncao grass. So a lot of people are now seeing the benefit, and families are benefiting from the sales of mushrooms."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Fuzhou, China.
(XHTV)