Manus islanders take to farming

By JAMES LARAKI of NARI

Community members clearing land to plant sweet potato and cassava on M’Buke Island

Growing food crops is a difficult task on islands and atolls and the M’Buke Island in the Manus Province is no exception.
Efforts are being made to encourage M’Buke Islanders to grow their own food, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd (PNGSDP) and the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI).
Under a two-year food security project, NARI is introducing improved crop and livestock varieties in an effort to encourage the islanders to grow their food.
NARI-released technologies to be transferred under this project include: African yam, NARI taro, drought-tolerant and high-yield cassava varieties, corn, lowland land early maturing sweet potato varieties, Muscovy ducks and other vegetables.
Located on the south east of Manus Province, M’Buke Island has a population of about 700 people and food shortage is a common problem.
The islanders, who depend on marine resources for their livelihood, will now be able to grow their own food with planting materials and training on crop and livestock production, and on simple processing techniques provided by NARI.
This food security project funded by PNGSDP is aimed at alleviating the current food shortages and malnutrition problems by improving crop and livestock production on a sustainable basis.
To kick-start the project on the island, a baseline survey was undertaken last June and planting materials of the improved varieties are being supplied to the island from the NARI Southern regional centre based at Laloki.
The project, which is being implemented in partnership with the Manus Investment Peoples Association and the provincial Department of Agriculture, has created interest among the islanders to grow their own food.
A resource centre would be established from where planting materials and other information would be distributed from.
It is hoped that the outcomes of this project will also benefit other communities on the neighboring islands and mainland Manus as well.
NARI is carrying two other similar projects funded by PNGSDP in the Rabaraba district of Milne Bay and Morehead in Western province.