Vudal turns Warongoi land into pasture

Captions: 1. Cattle at Warongoi. 2. The Warongoi River

University of Vudal in the East New Britain province is turning government-owned land at Warongoi into grazing land for cattle and buffalo.

The university also has plans to turn the land - on the banks of the Warongoi River - into a place where pigs, ducks, sheep, goat and fish can be raised.

Planning is underway for a pump to run water from the Warongoi River, which will cost about K50, 000.

AusAID, through the Agricultural Innovations Grant Scheme (AIGS), has already made a commitment for K168, 000 for farmer training for drought animals.

Animal science lecturer Gitala Pranis revealed these plans after an extensive tour of the area.

“Warongoi is State land,” he explained.

“It was originally under Department of Agriculture and Livestock for training of buffalo for drought purposes.

“It became rundown.

“In 2006, a memorandum of agreement between Department of Agriculture and Livestock and Vudal was signed, that’s how all this came about.”

 Mr Gitala said one of Vudal’s aims was to raise breeding stock, especially cattle and cow.

“Weaners will be kept at the main campus for fattening,” he said,

“Apart from weaners, we also want to raise drought animals, especially cattle and buffalo.

“At the moment, we have 50 breeding stock with five fully-developed paddocks.

“We have 40 calves.

“We concentrate on breeding.

“The total land area at Warongoi is 185 hectares.

“It will be developed into paddocks.

“We also have plans for livestock like pigs, ducks, sheep, goat and aquaculture.

“We already have an abattoir on the main campus.

“At the same time, it’s good practical experience for the students in areas like pasture, fencing, husbandry, and so on.

“We have only developed 40 hectares.

“When we fully develop the area we are looking at 200 breeding stock.”

Mr Gitala said the project currently had 10 permanent staff and 20 casuals.

“The potential is there but we need the money,” he said.

 

 

PNG's potato industry faces more threats

Papua New Guinea’s K100 million potato industry faces threats from new diseases which can be far more destructive than Potato Late Blight, according to outspoken farmer Graeme Ross (pictured above).

Mr Ross, who runs Alele Farm Fresh Produce, said that PNG faced a very real threat from these diseases through imported Australian potatoes

“The industry is being threatened since 2003 by over four major diseases, and a new threat is looming on the Australian supply chain,” he said.

“Major diseases are Leaf Roll Virus, Bacteria Wilt, Black Lake and a new virus that the government hasn’t identified.

“These diseases are uncontrollable with chemicals.

“If introduced into new soil, the soil can be unproductive for up to 10 years.

“Potato Late Blight is totally controllable with chemicals and farmer training.

“A major new threat not clearly reported by Australian quarantine has been discovered in Australia and distributed by a certified seed grower in Victoria.

“The distribution of disease seeds in Australia now threatens ware or eating potatoes.

“It is now a high risk importing from Australian into Papua New Guinea.

“The industry is demanding total protection from this potato disease outbreak in Australia.

“Major government agencies support a total ban on ware potatoes coming from Australia.

“To date, Trade & Industry and quarantine have not responded to this threat,

“How can Papua New Guinea survive without potatoes?

“We need potatoes in Papua New Guinea.”

Mr Ross said potato was very important to PNG, worth about K100m to the national economy, and was an important cash crop for small rural farmers.

“It’s a major food source for some high altitude provinces,” he said.

“It’s easy to grow and there is a major interest in producing the crop within the country.

“It’s grown in nearly all the provinces.”

 

Dust over Rabaul...but there is a silver lining to the dark cloud

Tavurvur spews ash and dust as seen from Kokopo

Yachts at Kokopo





Tavurvur as seen from Kokopo

Scenic beachfront at Kokopo

Resort at Kokopo

Queen Emma's Steps, Ralum

Bitapaka War Cemetery, Kokopo

Beachfront at Kokopo

Going back to the dusty volcanic town of Rabaul after many years can be a very emotional experience.
And that’s exactly what I found out when my guide, University of Vudal lecturer Gitala Pranis and his lovely wife Jacinta, took me to Rabaul as a last stop after an extensive tour of the Gazelle Peninsula.
Last time I was in Rabaul was way back in 1993, when I traveled there from Lae one weekend with my uncle, Elijah Kissing, to support our beloved Lae Bombers in their rugby league clash against the Rabaul Guria.
Our team lost; however, we had a great time that weekend in Rabaul and the many nightclubs in town.
A year later, in September 1994, our hearts broke as Rabaul was destroyed by falling ash of that fateful volcanic eruption.
Before that, in the early 1970’s, when my late father Mathias Nalu was school inspector on Bouganville, we family often stopped in Rabaul as the DC3 we were traveling in refueled on the long run between Lae and Buka.
Those were indeed the halcyon days when Rabaul was widely regarded as the “pearl of the Pacific”.
Those memories of another day touched a nostalgic chord in my heart as I saw the sad remains of Rabaul, which were so poignantly captured in song by one of its favorite sons, the late John Wong, who died so tragically this year of a heart attack.
He was a huge figure on the PNG music scene in the 80’s and 90’s, playing with such legendary PNG bands as Barike and the Unbelievers.
His songs Dust over Rabaul and Rabaul Town were huge hits and meant a lot to the people of Rabaul after the destruction caused by the volcano in 1994.
Tavurvur Volcano in Rabaul continues to send out clouds of ash and steam, as I found out.
It was making belching noises like a mammoth jet engine and continuing to send out ash over Rabaul.
The area near the volcano is eerie and like a moonscape, however, people stubbornly
persist and continue to live in Rabaul.
The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994.
After the eruption the capital was moved to Kokopo, about 20km away.
Rabaul is continually threatened by volcanic activity due to being built on the edge of Rabaul caldera, a flooded caldera of a large volcano.
There are eight active vents in Rabaul Caldera: Tovanumbatir, Kabiu, Rabalanakaia, Turanguna, Tavurvur, Sulphur Creek, Vulcan, and Vulcan Island.
A large eruption occurred at Rabaul volcano on Saturday October 7, 2006, with ash to 60,000 ft.
The eruption shattered windows in the town, and lava flows reached the sea
Many long time residents of Rabaul whom I spoke to remarked that this year has seen one of the worst ash fallouts from Tavurvur, with one of the largest and most consistent amounts of ash.
On November 20 this year, Tavuvur released a spectacular plume of ash and steam, and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite took a picture the same day and posted it on its website http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/.
In this image, a dingy gray plume blows westward over the Bismarck Sea from the volcano’s summit.
The plume differs from the nearby clouds in both its darker color and more diffuse shape.
At the Rabaul Hotel, staff are on the roofs, in the garden and its surrounds, every day, with shovels and wheel barrows digging out the ash that has accumulated over night.
A recent newspaper report, saying that the ash was life threatening, led to mass hysteria and panic by the workers of Rabaul and the closure of some much-needed utilities like the hospital, technical, school and power.
That aside, Rabaul is still a beautiful place with a lot of history, remaining the third largest port of Papua New Guinea, importing and exporting and the feeding straw to Kokopo Town and indeed, the whole Islands Region.
The history of Rabaul is one of wreckage and regrowth.
Modern historians will find a treasure trove of World War 2 relics, tunnels and caverns to explore within driving distance of Rabaul.
Close to the now-thriving centre of Kokopo, are the remnants of Gunantambu mansion, built in the 1880’s by the legendary Queen Emma.
After the eruption of Tavurvur and Vulcan in September 1994, most Rabaul services were relocated in Kokopo, which is strung along the edge of Blanche Bay.
The town has grown rapidly and the busy market, selling fresh produce, local cigars and betel nut, is located on the main road from Tokua Airport.
The waterfront is the place to find boats for travel to the outer islands or for a spot of fishing.
The drive from the airport, now located at Tokua about an hour from Rabaul, is along a narrow road winding its way around the glittering waters of the Gazelle Peninsula.
Through the coconut trees villages of thatched huts surrounded by colourful flowerbeds and tropical fruit trees look out over calm waters.
East New Britain has a fascinating World War 2 history and visitors can explore Japanese caved systems, barged tunnels, aircraft wrecks and submarines.
The people of East New Britain have been seen as culturely diversified with rich and unique traditions.
The ‘tumbuan’ signifies spiritual dancers and traditional ceremonies that demonstrate a history well kept and used in today’s society.
The Tolai people of the Gazelle Peninsulla have continued to use the traditional shell money called ‘tabu.
They use the tabu as a contribution to the Tolai male secret society of tumbuan and dukduk, for distribution to people at death ceremonies, as payment of a bride price, for settling disputes, to purchase land or even garden food from local markets.
The tropical nature of the province, with its evergreen rainforest vegetation and rugged mountain ranges, the imposing volcanoes which surrounds the town of Rabaul and the beautiful Simpson harbour have made East New Britain an attractive and adventurous place to visit.
The marine resources are diverse and the tropical environment provides opportunities for bush trekking, mountain trekking, mountain climbing and cave exploration.
Yes, indeed, there is a silver lining to the dark cloud looming over Rabaul.

Tavurvur continues to send dust over Rabaul

Tavurvur Volcano in Rabaul, East New Britain province, continues to send out ash and steam.

A visit to the volcano last Saturday saw it making belching noises like a mammoth jet engine and continuing to send out ash over Rabaul.

The area near the volcanoe is eerie and like a moonscape, however, people stubbornly persist and continue to live in Rabaul.

The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption.

After the eruption the capital was moved to Kokopo, about 20km away.

Rabaul is continually threatened by volcanic activity due to being built on the edge of Rabaul caldera, a flooded caldera of a large volcano.

There are eight active vents in Rabaul Caldera: Tovanumbatir, Kabiu, Rabalanakaia, Turanguna, Tavurvur, Sulphur Creek, Vulcan, and Vulcan Island.

A large eruption occurred at Rabaul volcano on Saturday October 7, 2006, with ash to 60,000 ft.

The eruption shattered windows in the town, and lava flows reached the sea

On November 20 this year, Tavuvur released a spectacular plume of ash and steam, and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite took a picture the same day and posted it on its website http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/.

In this image, a dingy gray plume blows westward over the Bismarck Sea from the volcano’s summit.

The plume differs from the nearby clouds in both its darker color and more diffuse shape.

Another milestone for University of Vudal

Caption: Kampalap villagers from Siassi Island, Morobe province, leading graduating students at the University of Vudal in East New Britain province last Friday.

University of Vudal in East New Britain province celebrated another significant milestone in its history and development last Friday with the graduation of 125 students.

This included 35 diploma in tropical agriculture students from the Oro campus who could not graduate in their own ceremony due to the closure of Girua airport at their scheduled time of graduation.

While the majority of Oro students graduated in absentia, four – Jeremy Philip, Adolph Ruku, Isidor Saeke and Fidelma Sarsoruo – were part of the ceremony at Vudal.

Of the 90 main campus graduands, 50 students received their diplomas in tropical agriculture, 25 had their bachelors degrees in tropical agriculture conferred on them while 12 received graduate certificates in management studies.

A further three students received their masters degrees in management studies.

This, including the seven fisheries and marine resources diploma graduands in Kavieng the previous week, brought the total number of graduates from the university this year to 132.

Solomon Islands High Commissioner Bernard Bata’anisia officiated at the ceremony as guest speaker while others included Chancellor Sir Rabbie Namaliu, Vice Chancellor Professor Philip Siaguru and student respondent Nason Gene

“I understand the department of forestry here in Vudal is finalising plans to start enrolling its first post-graduate students on a split arrangement with James Cook University, Cairns campus, in 2009, to work on ACIAR research projects,” said Chancellor Sir Rabbie Namaliu.

“Early this year, we took delivery of 20 new high covenant houses and eight new student dormitories, a total of 28 new buildings for the growing and expanding university.

“These facilities were built at a cost of K23 million by the government and people of the People’s Republic of China.

“Unfortunately, we have not been able to furnish them for occupancy due to the inability of the national government to fulfill its commitment in full to the university until recently.

“Even then, the money is yet to be paid to Vudal in full.

“Hopefully, we will have these facilities fully furnished and ready for occupancy by the beginning of the academic year 2009.”

University of Vudal VC attacks bureaucratic red tape

University of Vudal Vice Chancellor Professor Philip Siaguru launched a savage attack on bureaucratic red tape at the university graduation last Friday.

In a no-holds barred speech, he said that while universities in the country were focused on the production of manpower to develop Papua New Guinea, they continued to fight an uphill battle against bureaucrats in Waigani.

Vudal is a case in point, as earlier this year, the Chinese government spent K23 million to build seven dormitories (pictured above) and 20 houses, however, have not been occupied because the PNG government has not reciprocated by releasing K1.2m for beds and wardrobes for the dormitories.

“The problem lies in the corridors of Vulupindi Haus,” Prof Siaguru said.

“Our country is seriously suffering from what I call ‘governance deficiency syndrome’.

“There are many unnoticed symptoms, however, the eight common ones are:

• Sunken eyes every day from hangovers;
• Getting to the office at 10am every morning;
• Leaving the office at lunchtime;
• Backchatting and calling it a meeting;
• Cancelling meetings with CEOs from other organisations outside Port Moresby willy nilly;
• Forgetfulness and misplacing files and letters;
• Applying procedures to create a wall when a clear ‘no’ answer would have been constructive.
• On fortnights, weekends begin on Thursdays.

“That is how and why we are starving this nation of growth, development, resource sharing and progress, and our politicians are wondering why this nation is not delivering services.

“The old guard, in the likes of Sir John Guise, Sir Albert Maori Kiki, Sir Vincent Eri, Sir Tei Abal, and Sir Alkan Tololo were nation builders.

“They were men who had strong principles and high governance ethics.

“They believed in their beloved Papua New Guinea and guided it with firm principles of honesty and integrity

“They were taught and mentored by an order of disciplined colonial masters in government and churches who believed in meeting appointments and taking instructions from the boss.”

Prof Siaguru said in February this year, Planning Minister Paul Tienstein promised and delivered a dummy cheque “taller than myself” for K1.2m.

“This was to facilitate for beds and wardrobes for the dormitories,” he said.

“I have been given the merry-go-round by Departments of National Planning and Treasury since March, and my final year students are graduating now without sleeping in those dormitories yet.

“I was told to work with the Department of Works in Kokopo to organise a certificate of expediency to get the money to be released.

“I did.

“When I went to Moresby with the certificate of expedience, I was referred to Central Supply and Tenders Board and sent back to Treasury.

“I went to Treasury was told that it was not ethical to engage two government ministries.

“The involvement of Planning was sufficient, so they cancelled a 23-page document I had prepared showing all the quotations and justifications and referred me back to Planning.

“So I went to Planning and advised them of the information I picked up from Treasury.

“While walking back and forth and feeling very, very small in the powerful ‘governance deficiency’ corridors of Waigani, fortunately, I met the Honorable Minister Paul Tienstein in the hallway.

“The Minister had 15 minutes to spare and quickly called his Departmental Secretary for a meeting.

“In that meeting, we finally agreed that the K700, 000 balance would be included in the supplementary budget.

“The August supplementary budget has come and went.

“No money was allocated.

“I have since phoned up; they now say it will come from education rehabilitation.”

Prof Siaguru said the dormitories were still standing, and at the Kerevat National High School graduation recently, another K3.4m was promised by Planning for Vudal, however, nothing had been forthcoming.

“Unless we change the public service system and structure, this country will not come out of the ‘governance deficiency syndrome’,” he said.

“The overall management of the public service is sick and really needs a complete overhaul.

“It is like a cancer that is chronic and is already at an advanced stage.

“It cannot be operated on; it must receive external radiotheraphy or internal chemotherapy.”

Prof Siaguru called on graduating students to make a change from this status quo and take a turn for the better.

“If you do not stand up to be counted, the generation after you, your children, will live in a country that is corrupt, lazy, tired and greedy,” he said.

INTEROIL APPOINTS DIRECTOR

PORT MORESBY: INTEROIL Corporation announced today that Mr. Roger Lewis has been appointed to the company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Lewis has also been appointed to serve on the Board’s Audit Committee.

Mr. Lewis is an Australian and a successful former senior finance executive, having spent 22 years with Woodside Energy Ltd in Western Australia, finishing as Group Financial Controller.

Prior to that, Mr. Lewis worked in commercial and finance roles for over 15 years in the heavy manufacturing industry both in Australia and overseas.

Mr. Lewis brings to the Board vast experience in commercial, financial and accounting matters. He is a Fellow Certified Practicing Accountant (FCPA) with the Australian Society of Accountants and, since 2000, has been a Commissioner of the Lottery Commission of Western Australia, with particular responsibility for finance and accounting matters. He is a member of the Commission’s Audit, Remuneration and Major Projects subcommittees.

“We are delighted to welcome Roger to our Board. His skills and expertise complement those of existing directors and his significant experience at Woodside Energy during a major developmental period for that Company will be of great benefit to InterOil,” said Mr. Phil Mulacek, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of InterOil.

 

• InterOil Corporation is developing a vertically integrated energy business whose primary focus is Papua New Guinea and the surrounding region. InterOil’s assets consist of petroleum licenses covering about 8.7 million acres, an oil refinery, and retail and commercial distribution facilities, all located in Papua New Guinea. In addition, InterOil is a shareholder in a joint venture established to construct Papua New Guinea’s first LNG plant on a site adjacent to InterOil’s refinery in Port Moresby.

For further in formation please contact

 

Susuve Laumaea

Senior Manager Media Relations InterOil Corporation

Ph: 321 7040

Mobile: 684 5168

Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com