By
MALUM NALU
Villagers in the remote Lower Watut area of Morobe
province make their living mainly from small-scale gold mining along the Watut
River, as well as cocoa.
They do sell vegetables such as taro, bananas and
yams – grown on fertile river land – however, canoe transport to Lae through
the Watut and Markham rivers is expensive, a lengthy canoe ride of up to six
hours, and can be risky at times.
Motorised canoes along the Watut River…the only means of transport to market for the Lower Watut villagers with the absence of roads.-Pictures by MALUM NALU |
The
National visited the Lower Watut area last weekend and was
able to see how the villagers made their money.
“We make our money mainly from small-scale gold
mining,” Lower Watut community leader Simon Gulup told The National at Maralina village.
A taro and banana garden in Kapungu village along the banks of the Watut River…high transport costs means much of this does not get to market. |
“We use this money to pay school fees for our
children as well as other goods.
“Both men and women work for gold along the Watut
River.”
Gulup said it was only over the last five years or
so, when Morobe Mining Joint Ventures (MMJV) came into the area, that they
started going into cocoa.
“Over the last five years, we have gone heavily into
cocoa,” he said.
“However, currently, prices of cocoa are not good
and cocoa pods are rotting away because farmers are not keen on picking.
“We need more fermentaries.
“We get help from MMJV with cocoa seeds and cocoa
fermentaries.
“But then, we have to pay K40 to 40-Mile (along the
Highlands Highway on the banks of the Markham River), another K30 for PMV fare
to Lae, and when we come back, we have very little money or nothing at all.”
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