In search of the perfect wave in Papua New Guinea

As a surf destination, Papua New Guinea is relatively new to surf enthusiasts.

 Pioneers have found one thing that is certain - that the breaks here are just as challenging as any others they face elsewhere.

PNG has unlimited surfing potential year round.

On the southern side 10 minutes out of Port Moresby is Sero Cove, where the main barrier reef stretches along the southern seaboard all the way to the Milne Bay Province.

From June to September during the south-east season, the waves range from three to six feet, with the best waves in the early morning.

100km to the east of Port Moresby is Hula Beach.

 Other surfing spots are being explored around the Milne Bay area, Bouganville Island and the Gazelle Peninsula in the East New Britain which has quality waves ranging from three to six feet along the coral atolls, including point and beach breaks.

The northern side of PNG has premier surfing locations with waves on the mainland and offshore islands generated by the monsoon swells from mid October through to late April.

Consistent quality waves ranging from three to eight feet, and occasionally to 10 feet waves can be found at Madang and Wewak.

The most consistent waves are in Vanimo, which vary from beach breaks to point and island reef breaks.

Surf camps are set up at Wewak, Aitape and Vanimo and accomodation and transport is readily available.

Around Kavieng in New Ireland Province are numerous reef setups which provide several good and varying surf breaks.

Just off Kavieng town is Nusa Island Retreat, an environmentally low-impact facility that provides accomodation, meals and boat transport to the surrounding islands and their breaks.

The waves in this region and around Nusa Island Retreat are well-established and known in international surfing circles.

Nusa Island Retreat limits the number of surfers staying at any one time and is often fully booked during the surf season.

More information can be found on the Surfing Association of Papua New Guinea website http://www.surfingpapuanewguinea.org.pg/

                                               

Bulolo farmers get a boost

The happy graduands with Bulolo MP Sam Basil (second right) and DAL Momase Director Masayan Moat (far left)

The trainees prepare a cow for their graduation feast as part of their skills training

Story and picture by SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL
The success in the delivery of agricultural services at the district and local level government (LLG) levels depends on capacity building.
With more emphasis on development in the districts particularly at the ward level there is more demand on manpower, training, infrastructure, funding and other requirements.
A rural development officer working in the Buang LLG in the Bulolo district of Morobe Province, Tuwut Kole, made the remarks during a graduation ceremony for six officers and 14 farmers.
The two-week trainer’ training programme in goat, duck, cattle, buffalo and sheep production was sponsored by Bulolo MP Sam Basil and conducted at the Department of Agriculture and Livestock Erap Resource and Development Centre near Lae.
Mr Kole said the training had been beneficial to the participants who looked forward to passing on the knowledge and skills they have learnt to other agriculture staff and farmers.
“These kinds of refresher courses are helpful for those working and living in the rural communities,” he said.
“We look forward to carrying out work programmes in supporting agriculture activities at the LLG wards but we need more support in terms of capacity – we need increased manpower, funding and other resources.”
He said the capacity at the district level needed to be improved to enable the officers to provide assistance to current and new farmers.
Bulolo district administrator Nimson Kibisep agreed that it was a big challenge for the district staff and urged them to be committed in carrying out their duties.
A farmer from Wau, Sanik Kawena, said the farmers appreciated the training and would utilise the knowledge and skills gained to help themselves and others in the community.
Officer-in-charge of the DAL Erap centre, Ario Movis, and DAL Momase regional director, Masayan Moat, said the department was happy to provide agricultural technical services to enable the smallholder village farmers to benefit and improve their livelihood.
The department will continue to support the rural population in promoting food security and livestock provided funding was made available.
They commended the Bulolo MP for allocating funding to enable the training programme to be carried out.
Similar training is being planned for the future.

Adventures in paradise on board sv Tiki Tu

New Ireland’s perfect waves can be discovered on Tiku Tu

New Ireland children on board Tiki Tu

The unspoiled magic of Nusa Island

View from Tiki Tu

Exploring the islands of New Ireland

On Tiki Tu

Tiki Tu with canoes in a typical paradise Papua New Guinea

Innocence of a young island girl

Tiki Tu…marooned on an island

Two keen fishermen with a Spanish mackeral on board Tiku Tu

Do you ever wish you could escape this modern world and step back in time to a place where the great explorers found tropical island paradises and people untouched by western society?

It does still exist.

Papua New Guinea holds so many wonderful secrets and is one of the most-diverse and untouched lands on earth.

Adventures In Paradise Yacht Charters can take you on a voyage of discovery around the beautiful tropical islands of the Bismarck Archipelago in New Ireland province on Tiki Tu, a 33’ sailing catamaran.

Crystal clear water, white sandy beaches, friendly people, spectacular coral reefs, world class surf breaks, abundant fishing, picturesque villages, fascinating cultures, idyllic palms and unforgettable sunsets make this region a traveller’s delight and an unspoilt, isolated paradise.

What better way to completely experience all that is on offer here than the simplicity and freedom of live-aboard yacht charter?

The islands of the Bismarck Archipelago are untouched by mass tourism, untroubled by five-star resorts and package tourists.

Every experience that you have will feel like you are the first to experience it, the first person to visit this island village, surf this wave or snorkel on this reef.

New Ireland is an honest place full of people ready to invite you into their lives and their homes and allow you to have an experience that you will never, ever forget.

Tiki Tu’s hosts, Adam and Dani Smith, can offer you an exclusive, uncomplicated, unbelievable experience concentrating on your interests.

Both Adam and Dani are qualified skippers, with many years of experience sailing in Australian and PNG waters.

Dani also brings with her over 10 years in Melbourne restaurants, so you can be guaranteed variety and attention to detail in each meal.

Every charter is tailored to the desires of those on board.

There are no set departure dates or lengths of charter.

Enjoy a few days’ island hopping and snorkelling, or set sail for a month and do it all, exploring river systems, fishing, snorkelling, hiking, surfing, visiting villages and more.

The choice is yours.

“With the beauty of the islands, their sheltered waters and rich local culture, you have great potential for a classic sailing holiday.

“Adventures In Paradise Yacht Charters are based on Nusalik Island next to Nusa Island Retreat, where they moor their beautiful 10m three-cabined sailing catamaran, Tiki Tu.

“Half-day, full-day and extended charters are offered for you to visit uninhabited islands; seek out uncrowded surf breaks; drop in at Tabar Island, a stronghold of traditional carving; or visit the famous shark callers of St George’s Channel who hunt sharks by tapping shells against the sides of their dugouts.

“ Sit back and lap it up or learn to sail as part of the crew,” writes Jeremy Tredinnick, Action Asia Magazine.

Tiki Tu is a 10mperformance cruising catamaran.

She is light, allowing for excellent performance in light airs.

She is spacious, with 56 sq m of deck space, including a large forward trampoline to soak up the sun.

She has an awning which covers the whole back deck to shade you from the sun and keep you dry during the tropical rains whilst at anchor.

Tiki Tu is ideal for relaxing and peaceful cruising as she sits flat in the water without the constant roll that monohulls offer.

Her draft is under one metre, allowing her to enter shallow anchorages very close to the islands, and the reefs.

Tiki Tu is not a ‘luxury’ catamaran, but she offers comfortable accommodation for the adventurous traveller of all ages who are seeking a voyage through paradise.

Enjoy a voyage of discovery through the beautiful and unspoilt islands of New Ireland Province on board Tiki Tu.

Adventures In Paradise Yacht Charters:

Web: www.adventuresinparadise.com.pg

Email: tikitu@adventuresinparadise.com.pg

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Agricultural graduates urged to utilise skills

By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL

Agricultural graduates have been urged to use their knowledge and skills to be farmers themselves.

They were told that obtaining a certificate is an achievement and a start to a new chapter in their professional career in agriculture.

Deputy secretary for corporate services with the Department of Agriculture and Livestock Vele Kagena said this at the 36^th Highlands Agricultural College graduation recently.

Speaking on behalf Minister John Hickey, Mr Kagena commended the 2009 graduating class and told them that getting formal jobs is not everything.

“Many of the graduands have many years of field experience as agriculturalists or as youths with no hope in life,” he said.

“The HAC programme comprising of the post-certificate diploma and the farmer training programme is a great achievement and will equip trainers and farmers with updated agricultural information.”

Mr Kagena said the HAC programme had further enhanced their ability and personal skills to better deal with their work within their communities or sectoral institutions.

“For you all, getting formal jobs is not everything,” he said.

“It is my hope that educated and trained agriculturalist like yourselves will use your knowledge and skills to be farmers yourselves.

“Obtaining a certificate today is a great personal achievement and a start to a new chapter in your professional career in agriculture.”

Mr Kagena said the current circumstances in PNG had curtailed job opportunities in the public and private sectors but urged the graduands not to lose hope and to seek other alternatives within the agriculture sector.

The 36^th HAC graduation marks another milestone and successful year for PNG’s premier in-service training institution that has produced well over 2,300 PCD graduates and another 1, 500 trainees on short specialised training courses, which is a significant achievement.

Mr Kagena praised the HAC management for its efforts and urged the college to refocus its curriculum and objective in promoting innovative agriculture development through improved agriculture technology, information and knowledge.

“The college has a critical role to play in ensuring that teaching and training of both farmers and agriculturalists is continued successfully and contributes to income-earning opportunities for the rural population,” he said,

HAC acting Principal Phillip Senat told the graduands to stand tall and be proud as agriculturalists.

“The diploma and certificate is a stepping stone and opens up new opportunities in life,” he said.

He urged them to utilise these to make a difference in their lives.

He challenged those going home to take up farming as a business and to provide leadership in the rural communities.

 

Ricky Mitio ousted as Papua New Guinea coffee chief

Coffee veteran Ricky Mitio today (Sunday, December 20, 2009) announced his retirement from an industry he has been in for the last 33 years, as news broke that he has been replaced as chief executive officer of the Coffee Industry Corporation.

Mr Mitio (pictured)  was on recreational leave when informed that he had been replaced in the CIC hotseat by Navu Anis, a former CIC senior staffer, by the National Executive Council last Wednesday.

Mr Mitio, Mr Anis and former CIC chief scientist Potaisa Hombunaka had been in the running for the position after Mr Mitio’s contract expired.

Mr Mitio, who was disappointed at the appointment, offered the CIC board his successor plan to ensure competent executives took over the running of the multi-million kina which involves more than two million rural people.

He said that the NEC may have been misled in the appointment process with Agriculture Minister John Hickey, who was not present at the meeting, shocked his submission was hijacked in Cabinet.

“A judicial review is underway to determine whether or not the acting Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Andrew Kumbakor, who is Minister for Housing, has indeed overstepped other Ministers’ portfolios in sponsoring the NEC submission without consent,” Mr Mitio said.

“It’s up to the CIC and the Government to sort out these confusions.

“I have already informed the CIC board of my retirement and I shall be moving on.

“I am also very disappointed about the weaknesses and conflict the regulatory statutory authorities (RSA) act has brought about in the statutory organisations and other state-owned entities (SOE) chief executives appointment process.

“We had faith in the merit-based appointment being adopted under the RSA act.

“However, when the statutory organisation’s preferred choice is overridden by political interests in the NEEC, it questions the integrity of the merit-based appointment process.

“In the case of coffee, the preferred candidate of the CIC board, the recommendations from the Public Service Commission, and the subsequent recommendations of the Minister responsible were all ignored by the NEC.

“In fact, the CIC board is forced to employ someone it did not approve of and is now forced upon it by outside political interests.

“It is not based on technical competence required by the merit-based appointment procedures of the RSA act.

“It is a total abuse and sabotage of due processes.”

Mr Mitio said quality of leadership for the administrator of the coffee industry called for far-reaching personal attributes that academic qualifications alone could not buy.

“Leadership qualities also cannot be bought and sold from the job,” he said.

“These prerequisites are inherited through deep commitment to profession and are acquired on the job.”

Mr Mitio said under his successor plan, four candidates had been identified to be groomed to take over the CEO position, coming from both within and outside the CIC.

“There will be a short period of 12 months to screen and groom the four potential candidates, after which the board will appoint two suitable candidates to understudy the CEO position, so that the board should be in the position to provide a list of nominees that meets its performance-driven criteria to the Government for its final appointment,” he said.

Poultry development in East New Britain

Captions 1 and 2: Australorp chicken distributed to a family in Kabakaul, East New Britain Province 3:     DPI workers from East Pomio purchasing Australorp Chickens for their district

 

By WANDAMU PALAU of NARI

National Agriculture Research Institute’s poultry unit at its Islands regional centre in Keravat is aligning itself and slowly gaining momentum in supplying poultry stock to farmers in East New Britain and the region.

 This is being done subsequent to experiences of Newcastle disease outbreak in the province in late 2006.

Following the detection of the deadly poultry disease, a blanket ban was imposed on all movement of livestock and livestock products into and out of the province.

The ban hindered NARI’s poultry development initiatives but the small hatchery and breeder unit stood tall to deliver beyond imagination.

National Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection Authority (NAQIA), from its tests, declared the Keravat poultry facility to be clean and reliable to supply the sentinel flocks to those areas whose village flocks were destroyed by Newcastle.

During the restocking exercise, NARI Keravat hatched and distributed between 12 000 to 14 000 young chicks to the affected areas within the province.

The start of the restocking exercise, which commenced in early 2007, was completed in July 2009.

Presently, the ban is only applicable to livestock species going out of the province.

But those individuals and farmer groups within ENBP, who want to obtain stock from NARI Keravat, can place your orders now.

Australorp and other crossbred birds developed at Keravat are dual-purpose birds, good for meat and egg production.

Their feeding regime is not restricted to expensive commercial rations.

The breed is suitable for keeping under intensive and semi – intensive management levels. 

There are already significant purchases from local level government (LLG) areas like Bitapaka, East Pomio and Sinivit, which are getting young chicks to distribute to their contact farmers.

Commitment was shown by Livuan and Duke of Yoke LLGs to get some chickens for distribution in their wards.

Orders at NARI Kearavat can be made through telephone 983 9145 or fax: 983 9129

The Keravat poultry unit was established in 2004 with funding support from AusAID under the Agricultural Innovations Grant Facility scheme.

The facility’s purpose was to establish a poultry breeding and hatchery unit at Keravat for the production and supplying of Australop chickens to small holder farmers to the New Guinea Islands so as to improve food security, nutrition and income generation opportunities.