Taratahi Ag Education Attracting Keen Overseas Interest

Taratahi Ag Education Attracting Keen Overseas Interest

Source: Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre

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3/10/16

VISITS BY EIGHT COUNTRIES IN ONE WEEK HIGHLIGHTS DEMAND FOR TARATAHI EXPERIENCE.

Taratahi Chief Executive Arthur Graves says Taratahi is hosting a wide range of visitors this week from eight different countries.

"Taratahi is seeing an increase in demand from all over the world, for our authentic agricultural on-farm education model."

Visitors from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Timor Leste, Indonesia, China and the Solomon Islands will be on the Wairarapa Campus this week. Recently, Taratahi was visited by five Indian Parliamentarians. All had strong interests in agriculture and education, immediately seeing the business opportunities in working with Taratahi.

"The visitors are here for a range of different experiences, from short visits to understand what we do and can offer - both on and off shore. In the case of the Solomon Islands, a group of 10 teachers will learn various aspects of dairying over a period of four weeks."

"Taratahi is recognised as experts in our field and delivers the latest in information, best practice, and practical skills in real life authentic contexts. We are also leaders in providing other countries with the skills and expertise to create institutions and deliver courses that mirror what we do in New Zealand."

Sixty students and seven staff from the English Language Training Organisation (ELTO) arrive on Thursday. This is the organisation’s second visit to us this year. Members of the group come from a range of countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Timor Leste and Indonesia and this year are here to focus on sales and marketing, agricultural/horticultural practices and technology. They are all representatives from the Ministries in their countries ranging from Commerce, Foreign Affairs, Planning and Investment through to Agriculture and Rural Development.

Taratahi is also hosting a delegation from the China Mengniu Dairy Company, one of China’s leading dairy companies and the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association this week. The group are in New Zealand looking at dairy farm performance and pasture based farming systems. This pilot project is part of the NZ/China Agriculture Growth Partnership and China is looking at NZ’s Education and Science and Technology systems that underpin our farming systems. The next stage of the pilot is for staff members to come and study at Taratahi.

"The Mengniu visit in particular, is a very promising development," says Arthur.

Carterton Mayor John Booth says the overseas interest in Taratahi doesn’t surprise him.

"Taratahi is becoming recognised as a leader in agricultural education and assisting countries to set up similar systems in their home countries. The level of overseas interest is not just good for Taratahi but also Carterton and the whole of the Wairarapa."

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